8 Things To Know About Sandy Liang, The Fashion Designer Having A Moment

What do Blackpink’s Jennie Kim, Bella Hadid, and Olivia Rodrigo have in common? Well, for one, they're all fans of Sandy Liang. The Chinese-American designer combines a girlish playfulness and a sense of wistful nostalgia with a stylish, cool vibe; resulting in hyper feminine clothes and accessories that are unmistakably Sandy Liang coded.

While the most identifiable elements of the New York-based brand—bows and rosettes—might seem ubiquitous now thanks to balletcore and the coquette aesthetic, truth is, they are not new to the fashion world. But it's in the way Liang modifies and incorporates them into her designs, as seen in her oversized flower scrunchies, mixed metal jewellery and exaggerated bows, that makes them so distinctive and unique to the brand. Perhaps part of Liang's chokehold on the girls of the fashion world is due to her ability to achieve a look that is reminiscent of childhood; feminine and appropriate, outstanding yet wearable.

Inspired by her upbringing and childhood interests, Liang has said that her creative process involves designing pieces she would wear herself, with her own personal style and aesthetic as her starting point. Whether you're a Sandy Liang devotee or are just finding out about the brand, here's what you need to know about the designer and her namesake label.

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1. Chinatown grandmothers were her first inspiration

Liang grew up in Queens, New York and spent most of her childhood hanging around her father’s restaurant in Chinatown, where she was surrounded by ‘Chinatown grandmas’. Since graduating from Parsons School of Design, she has frequently cited these grandmas as her first inspiration.

She even cast her own grandmother in the photo shoot for her debut collection, which was shot in—where else?—Chinatown. 

2. Liang's signature motifs are inspired by her childhood

Liang regularly posts mood boards on her brand's Instagram account, giving her fans and followers a peek into her creative process. These images often hark back to shows and toys from Liang's childhood, such as Polly Pocket, Sanrio characters and Sailor Moon.

It's fair to say that the Japanese animation has had a significant influence on Liang, with elements from the show making a regular appearance in her mood boards, including hearts, stars and bows. These motifs have been translated into Liang's designs, such as her knee-high socks embellished with pink ribbons, heart-shaped earrings, and mini dresses adorned with multiple bows.

3. She opened the doors to her flagship store in 2020

Located on Orchard Street in Manhattan, New York, the label launched its first-ever brick-and-mortar space in December 2020. With its sleek metal mesh curtains, stainless steel surfaces, and walls covered with abstract geometric pink shapes, the space perfectly represents the designer's playful and feminine aesthetic. The flagship store offers a range of her most highly sought-after designs, from ballet flats to bow hair accessories, and even offers a made-to-order bridal dress service for all the coquette brides-to-be.

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4. She is no stranger to successful collabs

Liang is a pro when it comes to applying her feminine touch to any article of clothing or accessory. The savvy entrepreneur has had three massively popular collaborations with Vans, Saloman and Baggu. The Baggu collab, in particular, sent the internet into a tizzy. Fashion girlies were eager to get their hands on a Sandy Liang piece without breaking the bank, and those who didn't manage to cop the bags turned to instructional do-it-yourself videos on TikTok and Instagram to create their very own renditions.

Liang also worked her magic on Salomon's XT-6 Expanse and RX Moc 3.0 trainers earlier this year. Staying true to her playful approach towards her designs, the collaboration featured her famous flower motif and a bright green and pink colour palette. This launch was no exception to Liang's other releases, with the pink and green XT-6 Expanse shoe's resale price going for more than twice the retail price.

Released in January of 2022, the Sandy Liang x Vans collaboration featured the designer's classic nostalgic twist on a variety of clothing pieces and Van's iconic footwear. Differing from Vans' usual skater vibe, Liang's creative input included elements such as white lace detailing, adding an unexpected yet adorable twist to the popular shoe.

5. She tied the knot in August

Earlier this year, Liang and her partner, Dorian Booth, tied the knot in true Sandy Liang fashion. The couple held two wedding ceremonies—a traditional Chinese ceremony and a wedding party in coastal Maine. At the former, Liang stunned in a bold red ensemble, paired with Sandy Liang ballet flats.

The couple later celebrated their union again in Booth's family home, where the bride wore a classic white wedding dress and a veil of her own design. The dress, of course, featured little white bows and puff sleeves.

6. She took balletcore from dress to decor

The Sandy Liang craze shows no sign of stopping, with the brand recently releasing a range of home decor. Despite only one Instagram post announcing the launch, it generated buzz both on and offline as soon as it dropped. The collection included a ribbon runner, a doormat, a lighter, as well as some loungewear pieces that possess the same stylish vibe as the rest of her clothes but with an airy silhouette, making them perfect for all the fashionable homebodies out there.

7. Your dogs can join in the fun too

In collaboration with petwear brand Little Beasts, the two Asian-owned companies released a puppy-and-me winter capsule collection inspired by Sandy Liang's fleece and knitwear pieces.

The collection consists of six looks, available for both humans and doggos, including the 'Lil Grass Fleece Jacket' with the classic Sandy Liang motif, as well as the 'Lil Jiji Tote', a puppy-sized dog carrier with a large bow embedded on it.

8. The brand just launched its first collection of high heels

Sandy Liang's ballet flats just got a new sister! The brand took to Instagram to announce the release of its first collection of slingback heels. The square-toed heels feature an elastic slingback strap, boosted with a 1.77 and 2.96-inch block heel, each topped with delicate bows to mimic the look of a ballet pointe shoe. The designer opted for neutral colourways in smooth satin and leather for a romantic finish, in keeping with her signature feminine aesthetic.

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