SINGAPORE / NEW YORK, 4 May 2026 – CHARLES & KEITH unveils a special collaboration with Grace Ling for her debut appearance at the Met Gala. Known for her sculptural, boundary-pushing aesthetic, the brand has interpreted Ling’s vision and produced a one-of-a-kind custom pair of shoes for the Singapore born, New York based designer to don for fashion’s most anticipated night.

Ling marks this milestone with a deeply personal vision – one that reflects her design language from head to toe. Known for her futuristic silhouettes and use of innovative materials, her Met Gala ensemble embraces this year’s theme, Fashion Is Art, with a look that is both otherworldly and distinctly her own.
“Being invited to the Met for the first time feels incredibly special to me. It’s a moment I’ve always seen as more than just an event and I wanted to create something that expresses my world fully, from head to toe, where every element feels intentional and interconnected.

With my friends at CHARLES & KEITH, who have always supported my work, the idea was to extend that same language into the shoes, not as an accessory, but as a continuation of the silhouette. We explored tension between sharpness and fluidity, something that feels precise yet organic.” shares Grace Ling.

Ling’s look features her signature sculptural approach, incorporating 3D-printed chrome elements that lend a futuristic edge while blurring the lines between fashion and art – with the custom shoes by CHARLES & KEITH conceived as a natural extension of her design ethos. Defined by a sleek, elongated
profile and a mirrored metallic heel, the design incorporates biomorphic metal accents that subtly reference dagger and claw-like forms, introducing an undercurrent of strength beneath its exterior while grounding the overall ensemble in a refined minimalism and wearability.

Centred in a shared vision of creating something sculptural and quietly bold, the intent was to complete the look while seamlessly extending its narrative in a way that reflects CHARLES & KEITH’s design philosophy, where every shoe is conceived as an integral part of the overall expression, not just an addition. This bespoke creation underscores the brand’s continued commitment to supporting emerging and visionary talents on global platforms, bringing together fashion, art, and design in meaningful ways.