Photo: Courtesy of WÀNGDA
The fashion industry is experiencing one of its toughest eras for emerging designers. Big investors are more interested in tech than in retail and fashion, department stores are taking 90 days to pay vendors, and the five major department stores—Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue—are all owned by one of three companies.
Any emerging designer will tell you it’s a tough time for a new brand, but one young New York designer is managing to set himself apart from the rest: Wangda Chen, founder of Wàngda.
The New York-based brand was founded in 2023 by Chen, who sought to create a label that fused Chinese innovation with modern and avant-garde tailoring. Chen was born in China and relocated to the United States when he was 16. His fascination with tailoring began when he was a child, watching his sister and grandmother make small sartorial alterations to clothes.
Photo: Courtesy of WÀNGDA
Chen’s brand launched at the height of the quiet luxury trend, and he has been able to capitalize on it to grow his burgeoning label. His color palette focuses on neutrals like taupe, rust, charcoal, cream, and navy. Regarding his design philosophy, Chen says:
Although his brand is only approaching its second anniversary, he has already begun growing his e-commerce business with the launch of the brand’s website, Wangda.clothing, and has also focused on made-to-order pieces ranging from denim vests to silk shirts.
Photo: Courtesy of WÀNGDA
This past spring, the brand collaborated with Arête for their store launch, which included an opening night event featuring other emerging designers. As he works on securing additional retail partners, Chen is also establishing himself as a New York Fashion Week designer. Wàngda held its first fashion show last September for the spring 2025 collection at NeueHouse, the private members’ club located near Madison Square Park. The venue also hosted his most recent fashion show in February, showcasing the fall 2025 collection.
Originally, Chen conceived his line as a womenswear label but quickly expanded into menswear, which has been worn by influencers including Chris Lavish and Welasboy. In an era when gender fluidity has become popular among many high-fashion brands, Chen’s designs are a fusion of masculine and feminine elements. It’s not uncommon for both men and women to wear his sweaters, jackets, and coats, styling them however they see fit.
His East-meets-West sensibilities are serving him well as he navigates the challenges of growing a young brand in today’s fashion landscape. In a saturated market, Chen is managing to rise above many others as he garners the attention of retailers, stylists, and editors.
Photo: Courtesy of WÀNGDA
