She asked for her salary in advance to start Young Hungry Free. 14 yrs on, Blackpink wore her designs.

Winnie Ong launched Young Hungry Free in 2012 while she was still in her early 20s, fresh out of A Levels and taking a year-long break from school. At the time, she wasn't aiming to build a full-fledged business; she simply wanted to experiment with clothing and turn her ideas into wearable pieces.

Her interest in fashion began during her school years, when she spent time thrifting and reworking vintage clothes. Denim was a favorite material for her unique designs. Winnie eventually started selling these reworked pieces as a side hustle, but it wasn't until her gap year that she decided to pursue the idea full-time.

To fund her fledgling fashion brand, Winnie asked her employer for her salary in advance and used the money to get Young Hungry Free off the ground. Starting from her bedroom with a second-hand DSLR, she learned almost everything through trial and error. Looking back, she believes that starting young worked in her favor, as she was not overthinking her decision and was simply curious enough to give it a try.

Winnie's brand vision was to build a label around individuality. She noticed that people struggled to find clothing that reflected their personal style, and she wanted to create a platform for that. Her mission was to cater to the diverse ways people express themselves through their outfits, whether it meant dressing boldly, softly, or somewhere in between.

In the early years, building a following for Young Hungry Free's unique aesthetic was slow. However, Winnie believes that this slow pace was actually beneficial for her brand. The brand had time to experiment, make mistakes, and gradually refine its identity without the pressure of immediate success. As they gained trust over time, Young Hungry Free's style began to resonate with a broader audience.

Over time, Winnie also learned that building a brand and running a business were two distinct aspects. In the beginning, she handled almost every aspect of the business, from designing and photographing collections to managing orders and customer inquiries. As orders increased, she recognized the need to delegate responsibilities and build a team to support her vision.

Today, Winnie focuses primarily on creative direction, product development, and long-term planning for the brand. She has learned to let go of the need to oversee every decision herself, allowing her team to handle the day-to-day operations. This shift allowed her to concentrate on the creative aspects of the business while empowering others to help grow and sustain Young Hungry Free.