SPOTLIGHT ON GRACE LING
- BY KRISTOPHER FRASER
- 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
- 3 Min
Photo: Courtesy of Grace Ling
New York Fashion Week has since come to a close, featuring astounding collections from established designers such as Michael Kors, Brandon Maxwell, and Christian Siriano, as well as beautiful new designs from emerging designers and brands, including 5000, L’Enchanteur, and Sivan Apparel. One standout emerging designer from the recent New York Fashion Week was Grace Ling.
Ling founded her brand in 2020, and while the COVID-19 pandemic was a rough time for designers, she was able to take the time to design and develop her brand into the sustainable, 3D-printed, tech-infused practice it is today. Ling was fresh out of Parsons when she launched her brand, graduating in one of the most difficult times for not only the world but also for students trying to begin their careers.
Photo: Courtesy of Grace Ling
She didn’t let that deter her, making her New York Fashion Week debut in September 2023, where she unveiled her Spring 2024 collection. One of the first things the fashion industry noticed was how truly one-of-a-kind her pieces were. Her use of 3D printing to create items, such as daggers as handles for handbags, became a signature characteristic. While she isn’t the first runway designer to use 3D printing in her collections, she is one of the few who has incorporated it so heavily into her brand ethos.
Ling’s original approach to design also caught the attention of the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund, the annual competition for emerging designers to win a grant to support their businesses, as well as mentorship from CFDA members. In 2024, Ling was named a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist.
While Ling might seem like she’s had a fast track to success, the story couldn’t be further from the truth. She has been paving her path to fashion stardom since 2016, when she booked a one-way ticket from her home country of Singapore to study at Parsons in the United States. Before launching her eponymous label, she interned at Thom Browne and The Row, and also spent a year studying at Central Saint Martins in London.
Photo: Courtesy of Grace Ling
In 2022, Ling got a big break when her collection was picked up by luxury e-commerce site Net-a-Porter. She has also been named to Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 List. Although the 2024 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award ultimately went to L’Enchanteur, Ling still had plenty to celebrate. She received the first-ever CFDA x Genesis House Innovation Grant, which allowed her to grow her business. She is now looking to open a brick-and-mortar store. This young designer is only just getting started.