Zooming down the streets on an electric scooter in six-inch heels and a black mini dress to get to her studio located in the heart of the Garment District, New York-based Singaporean designer and Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient, Grace Ling is the definition of a modern-day girl boss on the go. You’ve probably seen the brand’s infamous Butt Bag scattered throughout social media as it has become a highly coveted stylist and celebrity accessory favorite. Or maybe you’ve seen her modern and futuristic tailored designs on the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Karlie Kloss, Duckie Thot, and Emma Chamberlain, to name a few. Most recently, with the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s newest exhibition In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, you can find the brand’s Square Cut Out Dress presented as an addition to the two-part exploration of fashion in the U.S.
Stepping into Ling’s sunlit studio in Midtown Manhattan, it’s evident that the space and its interior take inspiration from the biomorphic forms and silhouettes that are ever-present in her designs. Upon first entering, I was greeted by a sleek black console table adorned with every design studio’s basic needs. Among them was an unusual butt-shaped key holder that, upon inquiry, was told the narrative of the original intention for the brand’s signature Butt Bag. “This was the first-ever Butt Bag. The wood was sourced and made in the Valley of the Dolomites in Val Gardena,” Ling explained. In the current reproduction of the Butt Bag, Ling dropped the wood iteration for a 3D-printed aero-aluminum model lined with leather, and paired with a silver snake chain but has expressed her hope to bring back the wooden version in future collections. Ling’s motive for changing the bag’s original form from wood to metal was based on practicality as well as the brand’s emphasis on fine quality and materials. Aero Aluminum is also the only type of metal that is infinitely recyclable as Ling has devoted her objective to creating timeless pieces that outlast seasons and trends. Apart from what you would normally expect a designer’s atelier to look like, Ling prides herself on creating a space that takes after her close attention to detail and desire for refinement when it comes to her products especially when I took a closer look at the pieces themselves. “Since we have a lot of structural shapes, we do care a lot about the corners and shapes of the seams. Everything has to be pristine because there’s the concept and there’s the execution and if the execution is not correct, then the concept is just a hopeless dream,” Ling confidently states.
Growing up in Singapore, her parents’ role in the industry has long fueled her interest in discovering the various disciplines that the creative world had to offer. “My dad was an events designer, so he makes a lot of stages and props for people. It’s all very sculptural, rooted in craft, and surrealist in its own way. I think that has subconsciously influenced the way I approach clothing. I like to keep a good balance between structure and fluidity,” Ling says. Similarly, Ling’s mom is a makeup artist and attributes a lot of her passion to art, photography, travel, and creating a lifestyle that she sees her audience living in, to her. “I’m also influenced by my mom. The way she acts, her jokes, the way she behaves, and her own portrayal of femininity,” Ling adds.
As for what’s next for the multidisciplinary designer, Ling and her team are already hard at work on the next collection that is set to launch in September. At the conclusion of my tour, I was given an exclusive sneak peek into her newest collection where Ling keenly shared her expectations to embrace new colors namely a deep green that is new to the brand’s neutral-toned color palette. Novel silhouettes and styles are set to be introduced as the brand launches on Net-A-Porter this upcoming June. Filled with gratitude, Ling revels in the comfort of the space she has cultivated with her small team. Much to her chagrin, Ling’s growth may be even more surreal.
