Wangda isn’t Designing for the Hype, He’s Designing for the Feeling
The New York-based designer behind the label WÀNGDA is a minimalist, but not in the boring sense. His collections are thoughtful, sensual, and full of quiet disruptions: an off-center button ups, a whisper of embroidery, and the outlines of traditional lapels stitched on leather. Wangda Chen doesn’t design for attention. He designs for feeling.
“I don’t exactly remember what people say about my designs,” he says, with a smile. “But I remember how they feel. That’s the most important thing to me, how someone emotionally responds when they wear one of my pieces.”
Still, the reactions can be pretty great. After one of his recent shows, a close friend rushed over to gush about a small embroidery detail on a jacket. “They couldn’t stop talking about it,” he says. “They were so into it. And I love that, when someone connects with the details of the vision. That’s it. That’s what I want.”
Wangda’s work feels composed and serene, but the design process? Not so much. “Honestly, about 70% of it is instinct,” he admits. “I always say I start planning at the last second, like, the last month before a show. It sounds crazy, but I need that freedom. I need to be able to feel it.”
That instinctual approach might sound risky, but it’s also where the magic happens. Wangda draws inspiration from everywhere; movies, books, working out, even daydreams. “Memories are a big one,” he says. “The past is always in there somewhere. I think about my parents, my brothers… there’s a lot that comes from personal experience.”
He also meditates and pays attention to his own thoughts. “It’s all part of the creative process. You have to clear your mind so you can make space for the ideas that really matter.”
If it sounds like a spiritual practice, it kind of is. Wangda’s approach to design feels less like product development and more like energetic translation. He’s not here to dress the loudest person in the room, he’s here to offer a moment of pause in a fashion world that rarely stops spinning.
When asked if fashion always needs to be wearable, his answer is measured.
“I think it depends on the customer,” he says. “Some people want to explore through clothing. They want to wear the design, not just look at it. For me, right now, I think fashion should be wearable. I’m not focused on couture-level concepts or runway art pieces. It has to make sense in real life.”
Real life, for Wangda, is exactly where fashion belongs. His clothes are built for people who want to feel like themselves, not a trend. And yes, even the off-center buttons serve a purpose.
“People ask about those little choices,” he laughs. “I guess I’m just a design nerd. I like details that make you look twice, that make something feel a little off but still right.”
That’s the energy that sets Wangda apart. His brand isn’t trying to be louder, faster, or more attention-grabbing than the rest. It’s designed for the person who wants to be understood, not styled. Someone who’s living in their own world, who knows the power of restraint, and who appreciates clothes that hold a little space for stillness.
While some are obsessed with newness, Wangda reminds us that meaning doesn’t come from doing the most, it comes from doing the right thing with intention.
So what’s next for the designer? He’s not overthinking it. “I like to let the future unfold,” he says. “I just want to stay grounded, stay true to what I believe, and keep evolving naturally.”
And just like his clothes, that mindset is effortless, but deeply considered. He’s designing to elevate the feeling of being present in your own body, in your own energy, in your own time. And in doing so, he’s making minimalism feel like the boldest statement of all.
All photos courtesy of BFA
