A Journey of Emotional Tension, Textiles and Sustainability
On February 10th, 2025, designer KiKiPeng and her eponymous label KIKI PENG were invited to participate in the Symphony of Style spring show at New York Fashion Week 2025. That night, KIKI PENG presented a highly personal and infectious collection titled “What’s that post-travel feeling anyway? . The collection of three looks captured the complex emotions of post-travel depression – disorientation, imbalance, and the struggle to readjust to everyday life after an exciting journey. Through a combination of textile innovation and emotional narrative, designer Kiki translates her own experiences into a wearable narrative that resonates with many who have experienced this unsettling emptiness.
Through a careful exploration of silhouettes, fabric treatments, and color theory, Kiki divided the collection into three phases – the initial fall, the overwhelming emptiness, and the healing process – each expressed through varying amounts of fabrics, their fluidity, texture and the tension embedded in the design.
Three phases, three silhouettes: emotional evolution in fabrics
Falling: the moment when the heart hits rock bottom
The first stage represents the sudden emotional fall after the high point of the trip. The silhouette is twisted and unbalanced, with layers of draping fabric mimicking the sensation of falling. The structure of the garment is both tight and broken – binding sections are contrasted with flowing, draped areas to reflect the uncontrollable shift in mood. The low-saturation, de-colored palette conveys the initial loss of energy, as does the emptiness left after the excitement fades.
The central element of this phase is the “purposeless tension” textile material, made from recycled fabric scraps and yarns. In this look, the fabric is used prominently in the pants, its broken and interwoven texture expressing the tension of this emotional fall. This sense of carefully crafted destruction reinforces the loss of control, echoing the feeling of disorientation that comes with post-travel depression.
Overwhelming Emptiness: Wrapped Up in Emotions
During this phase, garments become heavier, fuller and more chaotic. Interlocking cuts and layered fabrics symbolize emotional bondage, while oversized silhouettes wrap around the body, revealing the overwhelming nature of post-travel depression.
The “Purposeless Tension” textile reappears, but this time in a more subtle way – it is subtly embedded in the side of the dress, hidden between understated plain fabrics. It requires the wearer to lift part of the fabric to reveal it fully, just as certain emotions may be buried deep within and not readily revealed. This design adds layers of exploration, reflecting the fact that unresolved emotions often lurk beneath the calmness of the exterior. While the colors remain restrained, the subtle appearance of warmer tones suggests the possibility of recovery.
Healing and Rebirth: Return to Balance
The last stage symbolizes the process of natural emotional adjustment. Fabrics become lighter, more fluid and harmonious. The silhouette regains structure but remains soft, reflecting a return to stability. The use of subtractive cutting techniques reduces fabric waste and gives the garments a sense of free movement, symbolizing the growth that comes from “letting go”.
The gradual return of color signals a revival of energy and motivation. The look represents renewal, self-acceptance, and the realization that the struggle is over.
A message of hope: learn to let go and move on
Kiki Peng’s work is more than fashion-it’s an expression of human emotion. In the What’s That Post-Travel Feeling Anyway? series, she delivers a deeply personal message: struggle is normal, but it’s temporary. Just as dopamine levels naturally regulate, emotions calm down over time. The less we resist these feelings, the faster they dissipate, making room for new growth.
Through her designs, Kiki encourages self-acceptance. She hopes that the wearer, or even the person who simply admires the collection, will feel comfortable with their emotions and understand that brief moments of discomfort do not define our lives. Beauty is always waiting to be rediscovered. This series invites people to embrace the ups and downs of emotions, to trust in the process of healing, and to find strength in the midst of struggle.
For Kiki, this collection is more than just her personal journey-it’s a story that everyone can relate to. By turning emotions into fabric, she reminds us that growth often comes from the most unexpected challenges. We’re all just people navigating the complexities of life, and in the end, it all works out.
KIKI PENG
Founded in 2024, KIKI PENG is a Chicago and New York-based fashion brand dedicated to sustainability, craftsmanship, and emotional narratives.Kiki transforms discarded textiles into innovative and meaningful apparel by combining avant-garde design with zero-waste principles. Her work explores the deep connection between clothing, the body and the psyche, making fashion not only wearable, but also emotionally resonant.
Through “What is that post-travel feeling? , KIKI PENG proves that fashion can be a bridge between personal experience and collective understanding – reminding us that even in moments of emptiness, growth and renewal are always waiting ahead.