A-lined mini dress; bamboo motif choker; bamboo motif bracelet; leather fingerless driver gloves; Gucci Jackie small shoulder bag; high heel wedge mule, all from Gucci.

From Outsider to Icon

Winning Best Emerging Womenswear Designer at the KL Fashion Awards was a moment of redemption for Cheng and her team. “Something we struggled mentally with for many years was with Ghostboy’s identity as a brand,” says Cheng. “We felt like we might’ve been looked down upon in the past—being just a gen-Z, ‘DIY’ brand, and people doubting our capabilities. It was redeeming to be recognised in this way.” Not that Cheng ever doubted the win. “We were expecting it,” she laughs. “We would’ve been very sad if we didn’t. I definitely felt a bit emotional.” 

Now, at just 26 years old, Cyii Cheng is a walking paradox—an unconventional beauty turned industry mainstay, a self-taught designer leading one of Malaysia’s most exciting fashion brands. Her ability to move between the worlds of modelling and design proves that she has little interest in playing it safe—not in her fashion choices, not in her business strategy, and certainly not in her creative process. For Ghostboy this year, the focus moving forward lies in strengthening their backend operations, making their pieces more accessible globally, and maybe,  “planning for our next retail space?” she ponders.

Left: Grey wool mini jumpsuit with deep V neckline; Gucci 73 mini bucket bag, flat boot in black, Right: A-lined mini dress; and bamboo motif choker. All from Gucci.

And while the bleached brows were never intended to be permanent, they seem to embody everything that Cheng and Ghostboy stand for. Bold. Unapologetic. Ahead of the curve. When asked what the KL Fashion Award win means to her, with eyes set to the future, she replies, “It means we can start striving to win the Womenswear Designer Award someday.”

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