Christy Ng wins Digital Fashion Innovation Award at BISA 2026, puts spotlight on sustainability, talent and brand growth

SHAH ALAM – Digital fashion is no longer just about aesthetics, but about survival, sustainability and scale, says Malaysian fashion brand icon Christy Ng after clinching the Digital Fashion Innovation Award at the Bisnes Sinar Harian Awards (BISA) 2026.

Behind the polished storefronts and viral designs, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Christy Ng said the real transformation in the industry lies in how brands balance creativity with material sourcing, cost efficiency and environmental responsibility.

She said sustainability, once seen as a costly ambition, is now becoming more practical as advances in technology make eco-friendly materials more accessible.

“For me, sustainability is very important. We try our best to use recyclable products or materials when we source raw materials,” she said.

Christy added that innovations such as recycled ocean plastic and other alternative materials have gradually become more cost-effective, making sustainable production easier to implement at scale.

“Back then it was really more expensive to turn ocean plastic into microfiber for handbags or shoes. But now the cost is going down because of technology and greater environmental awareness,” she said.

She said the brand also prioritises sustainable packaging, with efforts to reduce plastic usage wherever possible as part of its broader environmental commitment.

Beyond sustainability, Christy stressed that customer feedback plays a crucial role in shaping the brand’s direction and long-term relevance.

“I think feedback is a gift. When people give us feedback, it means they care. It means we are relevant and people are buying our products,” she said.

She added that the company treats feedback seriously, especially when it relates to product quality and customer experience, and takes swift action to improve where necessary.

“Out of 10 feedbacks, at least half are genuine. You need to be good at filtering them, and the genuine ones especially need to be acted on quickly,” she said.

Christy also highlighted that people remain the most important foundation of the business, saying that a strong team culture is essential for long-term success.

“People are everything. You are only as good as your team,” she said, adding that employees need not only competitive pay but also purpose, belonging and fulfilment.

She said creating a positive work environment is key to retaining talent, as financial rewards alone are not enough to sustain motivation.

Beyond internal operations, Christy pointed to a wider industry challenge in Malaysia, where many designers excel creatively but struggle with the commercial side of fashion.

She said designing is only one part of the process, while manufacturing, cost management, distribution and marketing require different skill sets that are often overlooked.

“You need to know how to manufacture it at a cost-effective price. A lot of people can design, but they cannot bring their design to life commercially,” she said.

Christy added that scaling a fashion brand also requires strong distribution channels and marketing strategies to match production with demand.

“It’s about matching production with demand, and production cost with design. There’s a lot more to it than just designing,” she said.

The Bisnes Sinar Harian Awards (BISA) 2026 is a national initiative under the Karangkraf Group that recognises Malaysia’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), highlighting business innovation, resilience and long-term growth across multiple sectors.