TABBE Designs releases their SS26 collection exploring the emotions that shape us into who we are, and The Butterfly effect captures the idea of having to lose something in order to innate growth. Talia Abbe, uses her gift in design to open conversation about mental health and bring awareness that expressing our emotions is a gateway to healing no matter how small or large. That even the smallest actions cause life changing actions that shape the world around us.

Could you talk us through the moment you had when the idea for the collection came to you?
This collection came to me while I was traveling through Vietnam. I had just left my full-time job to pursue my brand, and I decided to take what I called an ‘inspiration trip’, part work, part soul-searching. While visiting manufacturers and exploring the countryside, I was struck by how the landscape looked so different from what I was used to. The hills and mountains had physically changed over time from farming and agriculture; a visual reminder of how one small action can create a chain reaction. Around that same time, I was also processing a personal shift in my own life, losing friendships, growing from it, and feeling the emotional imprints thoseexperiences left behind. It made me realize that everything really does happen for a reason, and that every change, whether emotional or environmental, brings you to where you are today. That connection became the root of my collection The Butterfly Effect: how the smallest moments can transform us, just as they reshape the world around us.

In what ways do the garments embody the emotions that you are expressing through this collection?
Each garment in this collection mirrors the emotions that come with change and transformation. The Orbeez details represent the rivers that run through Vietnam’s mountains, but they also symbolize the people and events that flow in and out of our lives. The ruffles echo those same Vietnamese landscapes, but they also represent the layers of our own experiences, the buildup of every emotion, every version of ourselves that has formed over time. The pink liquid satin pieces feature custom prints I created from UV photographs I took in Times Square; blurry images of people rushing through the city, tinted pink to express the constant motion and unseen reactions. The fabric manipulation throughout the collection reinforces that idea: that everything happens for a reason, and even the most chaotic moments can form something beautiful.

At its core, this collection, The Butterfly Effect, explores the emotional chain reactions that shape who we become. It’s a love letter to transformation, capturing the tension between past and present, heartbreak and healing. The heartbreak dress, for instance, embodies the idea that sometimes you need to lose something to make room for something better.

Did you gain any inspiration or influence from other designers?
I’ve always been drawn to designers who create emotion through exaggeration and concept. Jeremy Scott and Rei Kawakubo both inspire me in different ways. Jeremy for his unapologetic playfulness and ability to make bold statements through humor and color, and Rei for herintellectual approach and how she reshapes what we think clothing can be. I connect to that balance between the two: emotional depth and childlike imagination. There’s already enough darkness in the world, so I like to bring joy and curiosity through my garments. I also draw just as much from psychology, environmental change, and the people around me as I do from other designers. For this collection, I wanted to channel that same sense of experimentation and emotional storytelling into something deeply personal. It’s less about referencing another designer’s aesthetic and more about continuing that tradition of pushing what clothing can say about the human experience.

You created Tabbe Designs in 2023. In what ways do you think your brand has evolved since then?
The idea behind Tabbe Designs really started long before 2023. When I was an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, I created a transformation garment made entirely out of pills, a response to my own mental health challenges during COVID-19. That project made me realize I could turn my emotions into something visual and wearable. In 2022, I began my MFA at FIT and started pushing that idea further, exploring how people react to their environments and emotions. During that time, I developed my first ‘bubble dress,’ inspired by the idea of creating a literal and emotional protective bubble.

By 2023, I was in the middle of my program, and people really started to notice my work. It was the first time I saw how my pieces could bring genuine joy to others, even when they came from heavier emotions. That reaction gave me the confidence to keep building Tabbe Designs into something bigger. After graduating in 2024, I officially launched my brand, and since then, my collections have continued to evolve. They’ve matured while keeping their childlike, playful energy. My goal is to keep exploring new materials and techniques while staying true to that balance: turning emotion into something joyful, and reminding people that beauty can come fromeven the hardest experiences.

Outside of your designs, are there other ways you try to end the stigma with mental health?
Outside of my designs, I try to continue the conversation about mental health whenever I can. I’ve been getting more involved with groups and communities that focus on emotional well-being and creative healing, and I’m always open to sharing my own experiences if it helps someone else feel less alone. I think ending the stigma starts with honesty and openness, just being willing to talk about the things most people try to hide. Whether through my art or everyday conversations, I want to remind people that it is okay to not be okay and that they are not alone in this feeling.

I found the jacket and mini skirt full of Orbeez so fun! How did you come up with incorporating that throughout the collection?
The Orbeez pieces were inspired by the idea of something that’s both playful and therapeutic. Orbeez are often found in stress balls, which people use to calm themselves down, but they’re also toys that children play with, something lighthearted and full of movement. I loved that duality. They represent flow, how emotions, people, and experiences move through us and shape who we are. I also wanted the garments to create that same tactile sense of relief, like you’d want to touch or squish them the way you would a stress ball. It’s meant to feel interactive and comforting, turning something small and sensory into a visual metaphor for release, healing, and growth.

I would love to know what the inspiration for the photoshoot was?
The photoshoot was very New York, it captured the chaos, energy, and spontaneity that inspired my print. I really brought out my inner Carrie Bradshaw for this one. She’s always in motion, juggling chaos and beauty at the same time, and that duality felt so true to both the city and my collection. But instead of making it feel overly busy, I wanted it to have a slow-motion quality; each model moving through the streets almost in their own world. At the same time, it was meant to look fun and effortless, like a group of friends living in the city, laughing, and wearing joyful, fun clothing. It’s about finding stillness and connection within the chaos, celebrating friendship, individuality, and all the little bright moments that make New York feel alive.

“Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed. Maybe they just need to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with them.” — Carrie Bradshaw

When did you start preparing to release a new collection? How long did it take you to complete this collection? Throughout the journey, did you find yourself experiencing any hardships?
I started sketching this collection during my trip to Vietnam in April, and I’ve been developing it ever since. The actual making began around July, but the research and conceptual process always takes the longest and it’s also my favorite part. This collection was definitely one of the toughest I’ve worked on, both technically and emotionally. Figuring out how to actually incorporate the Orbeez into garments was a challenge, they kept bouncing all over my studio! But beyond the physical process, the hardest part was emotional. So much of my work requires me to revisit difficult memories, friendships that have ended, moments of loss or heartache, and the feelings that come with them.

At the same time, there’s a lot of happiness that comes through in that process. It gives me achance to pause and really appreciate everything I’ve gained, and how the losses have made space for new, amazing people and opportunities to come into my life. That duality, the heaviness and joy, is what shapes my work. Designing this collection became a way to heal, to reflect, and to turn all of those emotions into something beautiful.

When you finished putting the collection together, what was the emotion that was going through you?When I finished the collection, I felt this huge sense of relief and pride. It had been such an emotional and technical challenge, and seeing it all come together felt incredibly rewarding. More than anything, it was healing. This collection gave me an outlet to process so many emotions I had been holding onto, it helped me move forward. By the end, I wasn’t just proud of the work itself, but of how much I had grown through it. It reminded me why I create in the first place: to turn everything I’ve felt, both the heavy and the hopeful, into something that can bring joy.

Article by Delanie Okocha, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
*Images courtesy of TABBE

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