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Worn Restrictions

Interview with Yeha Leung.

Bold, versatile, armour-like garments made for those who aren’t afraid to stand by their choices. Here, trends are just background noise and wearability sits in the backseat of intent and emotion. They are made to convey a message. Meet Yeha Leung, the mind behind Creepyyeha.

When you were a fashion student, how did you approach your design style within the academic setting?

When I entered fashion school, I honestly didn’t know much about the fashion world. I didn’t follow designers or trends at the time. I just knew what I liked, how I liked to style myself, and what I wanted to create. I approached everything with fresh eyes. I feel like my intuition was my main guide. School challenged me to develop a more structured approach, particularly when it came to things like research, references, and mood boards. That process felt unnatural to me at first since I was used to creating from a more instinctual, hands-on place. I was never a big fan of sketching. I’ve always preferred starting with the materials directly. I like freestyling, experimenting, and letting the design evolve in real time. Ideas come to me in cycles. There are certain themes or silhouettes that stay in my head until I’ve worked through them. I have the same swirl of ideas that constantly needs an outlet. I personally like to do variations of these ideas over and over again until they leave my mind. There’s something magical about being physically present with the material, letting your hands and your imagination lead the way. I trust in my body, mind, music, and fantasy. For me, fashion has always been about self-expression first. That hasn’t changed. School helped me discipline my creativity without compromising its soul.

You started this brand from your Tumblr blog. What has this experience taught you as a creator, especially in relationship with your customer?

I’ve always followed my heart in what I create. I don’t design with trends or customer demands in mind. I make what I personally want to wear. My work has always been a form of self-expression, like a tangible piece of who I am in a moment, something to play with and share. Starting a brand through my Tumblr blog taught me a lot about vulnerability and growth. It pushed me to be more open to feedback and ideas from others. There is always room for improvement. I learned that if I want to build a sustainable business and live off my art, I have to listen. That doesn’t mean compromising my vision. It means learning how to engage with my community, stay grounded, and not take things personally, even when the work is deeply personal to me. Running a business through a blog is also just really fun. It allows me to connect directly with people and see how they style my pieces or interpret them in their own way. That part feels like a collaboration. It’s endlessly inspiring to witness others’ creativity and how they bring their own story to something I’ve made. I find people’s personal styling choices fascinating, and it genuinely brings me joy to see my work in the world of others.

After the demise of Tumblr, niche died out and trends come and go even faster. Where do you find inspiration nowadays? Do you ever feel the need to cater to ever-changing trends in the industry?

I kind of touched on this earlier, but Tumblr was never a major source of inspiration for me. It was more of an escape. I enjoyed looking at beautiful images, but it wasn’t central to my creative process. I mostly used it when I needed to create mood boards for others, which is something I’ve had to grow into rather than something that comes naturally to me. So when Tumblr’s influence faded a bit, it didn’t really affect how I create.Trends have never been a driving force in my work. I create for myself first and foremost. It’s not my priority to chase what’s popular. When you design from an inward place, a place of personal expression, trends become background noise. It kind of feels secondary. I think it’s important to stay aware of what’s happening around you, but not to the point where it drowns out your own voice.

“I’ve always followed my heart in what I create. I don’t design with trends or customer demands in mind. I make what I personally want to wear”

Your designs are very sensual and body-oriented. Has designing this brand changed your relationship with your own body?

Yes, absolutely. Designing this brand has changed how I see my body. It’s taught me how I want to be perceived. My clothing has become my outlet, my protector, my armor, my cloak, my mask, my cape—an outer shell that lets me express different parts of myself. It is playful, it is sensual, it is curious, it is passionate. At the same time, I’ve become more intentional and controlled with how I present myself online. I shape my image through posing, composition, and framing. I like to create interesting shapes with the art of posing. It’s something I have done since I was a young child in front of a mirror. I know I don’t naturally look like that in everyday life, and it’s not meant to. I’ve always struggled with body dysmorphia, but I love being on camera. In a way, I think that’s how I take my power back. Through styling, posing, and creating, I get to transform into whatever I want to be. I become the version of myself I feel most connected to. Creating for myself allows me to express things I can’t always put into words. My body becomes a canvas, a tool for storytelling. The process helps me reclaim my image on my own terms.

During your creation process, how do you balance the dark, subversive elements of your designs with the wearability aspect?

I always design with adjustability and versatility in mind. I love when a piece can be worn in multiple ways, styled differently depending on the mood or the person. It’s important to me that the wearer has options and can make it their own. Even though my designs may have darker or more subversive elements, the functionality is always there—whether it’s through ties, buckles, clasps, layering, or reversible silhouettes. I think wearability doesn’t have to mean compromise. It can mean giving people more value and freedom in how they wear something. More bang for your buck, as they say! That said, some pieces are made purely to be seen and felt, not necessarily worn out into the world. They exist to make a statement. My leather bondage dresses, for example, are intentionally restrictive—they’re not about comfort, they’re about conveying a message. Sometimes the body becomes the frame for an idea, and wearability takes a backseat to the emotion or concept I want to express.

On top of that, do you have a vision in mind about the wearer of your designs? Who do you envision when you are designing your pieces?

I envision someone who isn’t afraid to experiment with their personal style. Someone who treats getting dressed as a daily ritual, a visual language that reflects who they are.You don’t have to be the most confident person in the room, but you do need to stand behind your choices when you walk out the door. It’s not about looking perfect. It’s more about being intentional, present, and open to playing with identity in real time. I love someone who lives for drama in fantasy!

“My clothing has become my outlet, my protector, my armour, my cloak, my mask, my cape…”

Many would describe your garments as ‘BDSM aesthetic’ or consider them fetish wear. However, in previous interviews, you have mentioned that you don’t only cater specifically to that. How do you feel about this categorisation and this use of the word ‘aesthetic’? Do you feel like aestheticism waters down fashion creation?

I actually use the word “aesthetic” a lot myself, so I don’t have strong feelings against it. But for me, what I’m really trying to communicate is an emotion, not just a look. I think once we start putting too many labels on things—whether it’s “BDSM aesthetic” or “fetish wear”—we kinda risk boxing ourselves in, and I don’t think that’s the goal for me, personally! I’m not here to define everything so tightly. I just want to create, play, and have fun. Whatever that ends up looking like! I try not to take things too seriously. People are always going to have their own interpretations, so why bother labeling it? I’m more focused on what the work feels like, not necessarily how it’s categorized.

Can you share the most memorable custom request you’ve ever done for a client?

There are honestly too many to choose from, but the most recent one that stands out is a custom piece I made for my friend and longtime collaborator, Queenie Sateen. If you know Queenie, you know her looks are always bold, brilliant, and unapologetically over-the-top. She’s the ultimate fantasy! My muse for so many years. She wanted something dramatic for the AVN Awards and came to me with this fabulous idea: a phallic hairdo with pearls bursting from the tip. We both agreed pearls were the perfect touch for the occasion. I was always playing around with the idea of creating gowns, so I used this opportunity to do so. We wanted it to be playful, provocative, and iconic. In collaboration with Mary Witch, we created a sheer corset dress with oversized bows on the sides, a sheer train, and pearls draped across her chest and hips to tie the whole look together. It was a memorable project because it was made for a friend who fully trusted and supported my vision. She absolutely owned the red carpet, and to this day, it’s one of my favorite looks I’ve ever done. One custom request that really stayed with me was from a client who asked me to design a bra for just one breast. She had overcome breast cancer and wanted a piece that celebrated her body as it was. She wanted something that revealed one side and covered the other. It was a meaningful request, and also a challenging one since she wasn’t local, so I had to work with limited measurements and communication. I usually would like in-person fittings to feel secure about customs like these. I never got to see how it turned out on her personally, but I really hope it lived up to her expectations. That piece reminded me how intimate and personal fashion can be—how it can carry emotion, healing, and strength.

You have mentioned previously that the garments you create feel like armor to you. Do you feel particularly vulnerable in other types of garments? Or do you feel like the garments transform you into a persona?

Yes, it’s true. I do feel vulnerable when I’m not dressing myself. I know what works for my proportions, and styling has always been my way of compensating for my natural shyness. It became a tool to help me feel confident and secure in my body. Over time, I’ve learned that not all garments speak to me the same way. I’ve modeled for other brands in the past, and when the fit or cut didn’t suit my shape, I didn’t feel like myself. That’s when I realised I’m not a blank-canvas kind of model, and that’s okay. It took time for me to accept this, but I am at a place where I can now say no if I don’t want to wear something. Some people feel their most confident in loose-fitting, athletic pieces, but for me, that’s actually when I feel most exposed. I prefer structure with a touch of play. I like pieces that hold me, define me, and help me step into the version of myself I want to embody. My garments really do act as armor, and without them, I sometimes feel like I’m missing a layer of protection.

What’s on the horizon for you? Do you have an ultimate goal you want to achieve for yourself or your brand?

I’ve achieved so many of the goals I set for myself, and after over a decade of nonstop dedication to my work, I’m finally in a place where I want to slow down and really smell the roses. Right now, I’m focusing on healing my inner child, making space to play, and being more present with the people I love. My goals these days are less about chasing and more about sustaining and nurturing the parts of my life and creativity that bring me real joy. For my brand, that means continuing to collaborate with creatives who inspire and motivate me. One of those people is Mary Witch, a designer I’ve been working with closely these recent years. She is so good at what she does, it motivates me to try new things. I’ve been looking for a collaborator like her for so long. Despite the language barrier, we have a deep understanding of each other’s visions, and I’m excited to keep creating beautiful things together. I also dream of finally completing my showroom and photo studio. The plan is to open my space to the community, host events, and bring creatives together. At the heart of it all, I just want to keep pouring my affection and passion into everything I do and continue bringing joy and light to others through my work.

Worn Restrictions / Yeha Leung

Credits:

Artist/ Designer : Yeha Leung / @yehaleung
Brand: Creepyyeha / @creepyyeha
Photos by: Noe Cove / @noecove
Models: Deathbyromy / @deathbyromy Tiana Parker / @tianaparkr
Interview: Gynna Bella / @gynnabella
Editor: Maria Abramenko  / @mariabramenko
Junior Editor: Annalisa Fabbrucci / @annalisa_fabbrucci

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