Grace Ling debuts at NYFW with ‘NEVERLAND’ SS24

As a new interim member of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) and a Net-a-Porter Vanguard alumna, designer Grace Ling’s rise in the fashion world has been meteoric.

Over the past two years, Grace Ling has become an acclaimed name not only on the New York fashion scene, but also among celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, Karlie Kloss and more. But it’s the brand’s eccentric elegance that has piqued the interest of the cool kids. With the designer’s first runway show at NYFW for the SS24 season, the artist opens the doors to her world.

Born in Singapore, she started modelling at the age of 16. She simultaneously began her studies, first at the prestigious Parsons University in New York and then at Central Saint Martins in London, where she specialised in women’s fashion. Although Grace Ling has not been part of the New York Fashion Week calendar until now, the designer has been building her universe through an anthropomorphic lens with her previous collections.

So with her new collection, “NEVERLAND”, she references the synergy of modernists and surrealists, such as Brancusi and Les Lalanne, eclectic objects of biomorphic sensibility enshrined in metal sculptures. Through concealment and revelation, the human body is framed in clean, spatial lines: the perfect balance between sensuality and formality.

From the first look, a panelled chrome bodice reminiscent of Alexander McQueen’s designs, paired with a black skirt, it was clear that the show was going to be one to talk about. The collection included sheer gradient dresses, long skirts with tops, dresses, bodycon two-piece ensembles with chrome inserts, leather jackets, transparencies and more.

“I like to see how anthropomorphism can be interpreted in new ways. For this collection, I was inspired by Hieronymus Bosch and his painting ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ and I’ve been wanting to do a collection about it for a long time…. I think my style is the perfect balance between sensuality and formality”. Explained the designer.

On her SS24 collection which includes her most iconic pieces and new additions: “NEVERLAND is a light-hearted allegory of the absurdity of the human condition. It is a tribute to our inner child, sometimes naive and misguided, but always authentic as we make our way through life. As Peter Pan explains, there are no “lost girls” because girls are too smart to fall and get lost in that way”.

Sandy Liang SS24: a revelation for NYFW.