Holding these different worlds at once is what shapes Chia’s work. That duality – tactility and refinement, restraint and experimentation – underpins the brand’s aesthetic. “Wearable avant-garde” is a description often attached to their designs, though Chia says it wasn’t intentional.
“A lot of it came from solving questions about cut and structure. In searching for the answers, the garments naturally took on that experimental spirit people associate with the avant-garde,” he said.
For him, wearability is emotional as much as functional. “We’re drawn to natural fibres because they hold memory. They change with time, absorb warmth, and carry traces of life. Garments that live quietly with the wearer, that move through seasons and moments – that is the essence of Joe Chia.”
BUILDING WITHOUT COMPROMISE
Today, the label remains fully independent. Deng, 34, oversees budgets, logistics, stockist relationships, and communication. Chia continues to lead the creative direction, inspecting every drape and fold. Their sampling team is just four people, all long-time collaborators.
“Growing organically means moving at a pace we can sustain, even if it’s slower. There have been many moments where we had to reshape ideas to fit within realistic budgets, so growth has naturally been more gradual,” said Deng.
“Scaling requires an ecosystem beyond creating clothes. Coming from design backgrounds, we’ve had to learn to build a brand and company from the ground up, stepping into roles we were never trained for.”
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