Meichi Peng Discusses Career Advice, Creativity, and Favorite Objects

Meichi Peng always loved to draw. As a child in Taiwan, she took figure-drawing classes, studied calligraphy and traditional Chinese watercolor, and taught herself knitting and leather crafting. When she told her father she wanted to study abroad to be a fashion designer, he urged her to pick a career where she could at least support herself. “So practical, as an Asian dad,” she says, laughing. But as it turns out, his advice paid off. “I ended up picking interior design—a career that could satisfy my parents but also makes me happy.” Peng earned a degree in interior design from Wentworth Institute of Technology, and today she is the founder and creative director of Meichi Peng Design Studio in Boston. Her imaginative residential and commercial spaces balance form and function with a precise architectural perspective. And she did not abandon her sartorial dreams; in 2007, she launched Peng Bags. Her sleek and structured handbag designs complement her interiors and reflect more than a little of her father’s practicality. Born from a need to transport her traditional drafting tools while in college, the hand-stitched bags (she frequently adds new styles) are numbered for ease of ordering and tracking inventory.

1. A place that means a lot to me…is Taiwan. I grew up on farmland in the countryside. I helped my family with our duck farm business and cooked for all
the farmworkers during my teenage years. As I get older, I love going home to visit my family during the summer and Lunar New Year.

2. I have a collection of…ancient Buddha statues from different regions and periods. I love the serenity of their facial expressions and layers of aged textures. They keep me grounded and humble.

3. An object I would never part with…is a set of carved stone figurines called Candlelight Mom. A seated figure with a smile-wrinkled face is sewing a button against a bamboo wood fence, surrounded by candles, hens, and small chicks. I love how the artist sets a scene.

4. The best gift I’ve received…is a pair of carved ducks. They remind me so much of when I was growing up.

5. The best gift I’ve given recently…was a donation to the Ocean Alliance. A very close friend of mine introduced me to it. I select a charitable organization each year that matters to me the most [depending on] the environment we are in.

6. My style icon…is Chitose Abe of Sacai. I love the structure, mixed materials, and casualness of streetwear.

7. The most meaningful advice I ever received…was from a Buddhist temple host in the village near my family home. Translated from Mandarin to English, I remember it as: “Life on Earth is a part of training; be compassionate and learn as you go.”

8. My favorite way to unwind…is to walk either in the park or by a river, hike in the mountains, or snorkel in the ocean. Last summer, I went hiking in Matera, Italy. The landscape was breathtaking.

9. I always carry…my iPad Pro in Peng No. 24 Cream, a backpack and belt bag I designed for work and travel. I’ve used them every day for almost two years. The belt bag is for my wallet and phone. When I go out in the evening, I can wear it differently.

10. In another life I would have been…a chef. My mom is a wonderful cook, and as a young girl, I helped her in the kitchen. My dad was a social butterfly and loved to host. We hosted huge banquets for friends and family at our house and my mom would cook. By watching her speedy course preparation, I learned to cook spontaneously with whatever is in the fridge—no menu.

11. When I need inspiration I…watch movies for the set design. One of my favorite movie sets is from the 2006 remake of [the 1979 movie] When a Stranger Calls. I don’t typically watch thriller movies (I get nightmares), but I was so intrigued by the house design. It has an indoor central courtyard with trees, a pond, live fish, and birds—entirely created for the movie. I was working in corporate design at the time, but seeing this set confirmed my dream to become a residential designer.

meichipeng.com; pengbags.com