For Carla Zhang, fashion is not just about form or function, but about feeling. “I was always drawn to creative visionaries and storytellers,” she reflects, “These worlds [they created] allowed me to escape and imagine beyond reality.” She spent her childhood drawing, reading and immersing herself in films and anime before she discovered Alexander McQueen’s work at the age of 13. It was then that she realised that clothing could function as narrative—capable of expressing emotion and touching people on a deeper level. From then on, fashion felt like the intersection of all her passions; launching her label, LE NGOK, was simply inevitable. “Le” (乐), her nickname, represents happiness, curiosity and joy—the emotional undercurrent of the brand—while “Ngok” honours her mother, whose belief and support have quietly anchored her journey.

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“My creative process often begins with reflection—either inward, drawing from personal experiences, or outward, responding to the environment I am immersed in,” Zhang explains. “If that seed feels worth nurturing, I move into the research phase, gathering inspiration from everywhere: The quiet walks I take, conversations with people, films, articles, new cities, or art exhibitions. I collect emotions, visuals and fragments of expression.” Her latest collection, Glitch Theory, “exists in the space between chaos and structure—the ‘glitch’ as an unpredictable error, and ‘theory’ as a search for order,” she says. “Once the mood and narrative become clear and I can visualise how the pieces will move, be worn, and exist within a cinematic world, I begin designing. That mental image guides every decision, from fabric and colour to texture and technique,” she elaborates.

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While all drawings begin with lines, here in the label, they play a prominent role. “The lines curve without pattern, intersect freely, and weave organically, mapping my experience of navigating the new city I’m currently based in—Shanghai—and my solitary creative journey,” she shares. This is realised through a technique she calls “free weaving”, a freestyle hand-weaving method with no fixed pattern. Chaos is not treated as a flaw but as “a source of form and order” and uncertainty is embraced as part of both the design process and life itself. Zhang’s next collection, which she is currently working on, builds on this idea, and dives further inward to question happiness against the realities of burnout in a fast paced modern world.

Sustainable practices also play a key role at LE NGOK. “In my artisanal collections, I explore recycled materials, and sustainable techniques such as zero-waste pattern cutting and upcycling methods that minimise environmental impact,” she shares. “One of the biggest challenges,” Zhang reflects, “has been staying true to my creative vision while building a sustainable business.” For her, sustainability goes beyond sourcing. “Longevity is vital to how I define sustainability,” she says. “What grounds me is constantly revisiting my purpose behind each collection—why it exists, who I am designing for, and how the market is shifting.”

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This sense of introspection is what ultimately defines LE NGOK. Every collection begins with a specific feeling, tied to a moment of reflection, and translated artfully into silhouette, texture, and presentation. As Zhang looks ahead, the story continues to unfold—guided by curiosity, intuition and everything in between.

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