Kim Shui Fall/Winter 2026: A Decade in Motion
On Sunday night, February 15th, New York Fashion Week didn’t just happen, it moved. Aboard the Eternity Yacht at Pier 17, Kim Shui unveiled her Fall/Winter 2026 collection, marking the opening chapter of her tenth year in business. Forty-one looks. Over 200 guests. A skyline that shifted as the yacht cut through the water. And just two days before the Lunar calendar turns to the Year of the Fire Horse, the symbolism was undeniable.
This wasn’t a show about standing still. It was about momentum.
Shui centered the collection around Qi, the animating force that carries intention, memory, and transformation through everything it touches. And you could feel it. The movement of the water. The movement of the models. The movement of a brand stepping confidently into its next decade.
Protection to Power
Inspired by Mongolia’s migratory history,cultures shaped by movement across vast and unforgiving terrain, Shui translated legacy through material. The opening felt protective and grounded. Thick velvet, felt, suede, leather, and faux fur wrapped the body in warmth. Earthy tonal palettes anchored the collection in strength.
Then came the shift.
Metallic gold and silver caught the light. Saturated reds and greens intensified the mood. Jewel-toned silks, animal prints, luminous finishes, oversized metal jewelry, and intricate beading elevated the narrative. The silhouettes evolved from insulated to opulent. From guarded to bold.
It felt like a transformation in real time.
Heritage as Structure, Not Decoration
One of the most powerful elements of the collection was how Shui approached heritage,not as nostalgia, but as living architecture.
Traditional Chinese knotting appeared as a structure. Entire garments were constructed from tensioned cord and handwork, reimagining an ancient decorative method into something architectural and modern. Each knot functioned as a connector and framework, binding craft, culture, and intention into one cohesive language.
Exaggerated pankou closures ran through the collection as fastening, embellishment, and spine all at once. This is what it looks like when tradition evolves without losing its soul.
Beauty, Sound, and the Energy of Movement
Beauty mirrored the collection’s duality, precision, and softness coexisting. Lacquered hair folded into ribbon-like forms contrasted with voluminous curls. Diffused rose tones, luminous skin, and graphic liner grounded the face. Nails by Sojin Oh for Sojinails referenced traditional Chinese royal nail ornamentation in deep reds, golds, nude lacquers, and liquid silver finishes.
The vessel itself became symbolic, a contemporary counterpart to the horse. As models walked, a live guzheng performance by Nico Huzella filled the air, its layered strings creating a meditative rhythm. Then “Angel” by Massive Attack shifted the atmosphere into something cinematic and charged.
We weren’t just watching. We were moving with it.
And that felt intentional.
Progress does not require fixed ground. It’s fluid. It’s ongoing. It’s in motion.
Representation as a Constant
Kim Shui has long championed representation, and this season was no different. The casting reflected a spectrum of bodies, identities, and lived experiences. Her vision of femininity is not singular—it’s layered, evolving, and expansive.
Following the show, the celebration continued at W New York – Union Square, where guests, including Richie Shazam, Nicole Miller, Meredith Mickelson, Joey Bada$$, Serayah, Lauren Chan, Adrianne Ho, A-Trak, and more, carried the energy late into the night.
Ten Years In
Born in the United States and raised in Rome, Kim Shui brings a global perspective to her New York-based label. A Duke graduate who pivoted from economics and French into fashion, she has since dressed Beyoncé, Bella Hadid, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Mary J. Blige, among others. From Forbes 30 Under 30 to CFDA recognition, her trajectory has been steady and intentional. Fall/Winter 2026 wasn’t just a runway show. It was a statement.
Ten years in, Kim Shui isn’t reflecting backward. She’s accelerating forward.
Photo Credit: MOMENT DEPARTMENT