Four years ago no one had heard of Peter Pilotto and his distinctive digitally manipulated prints. In only 3 years this young designer and his design partner Christopher De Vos have burst onto the fashion scene with rave reviews. Even Michelle Obama has worn one of their prints.
Figure-Flattering Shapes for Real Women
Peter Pilotto and Christoper De Vos join the ranks of designers like Donna Karan who really know how to cut for a woman’s body. It is Pilotto's timeless prints and Vos's figure-flattering draping which make the label stand out. Their designs are carefully cut to flatter a woman’s curves, with print placement also taken into account. According to the label’s creative director Ronnie Cooke Woodhouse, Pilotto "accentuates the good parts and makes the rest go away."
The Digital Age of Women's Fashion
Peter Pilotto is one of those new generation of designers who was weaned on computer imagery. His talent for digital prints have earned him instant recognition in the fashion world, with designs that hit the spot in terms of digitially manipulated patterns in colors that seem to flatter any skin tone. Fans of the label's distinctive but not over-the-top party dresses include Jessica Alba, Sienna Miller and Claudia Schiffer. These timeless designs are tailored to suit women of any age.
Peter Pilotto Designs
Pilotto was hailed by Style.com as 1 of the 10 most promising talents, after reviewing his fall collection in 2008. Spring 2009 saw his famed parrot-like prints and huge playful polka dots in ultra-flattering short dresses
Each season has seen this London-based label’s designs become more and more ambitious. The digital prints whilst still distinctive have become more delicate, and shapes have become more sophisticated and complicated. Colors are carefully selected to suit as many skin shades as possible and print layouts are tested to ensure they are figure-enhancing.
Spring 2010 sees designs in subtle but dramatic prints and this season’s soft delicate colors on ultra-flattering short dresses and lightweight coats, vests and tops. From pearly snakeskin patterns to digitally-manipulated firework displays.
Designer Duo Peter Pilotto & Christopher De Vos
Austrian-born Peter Pilotto and his partner De Vos launched their London based label in 2007. The two first met whilst studying fashion in Atwerp, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. They graduated in 2004, with Pilotto being known for his colors and De Vos known for his volume. They moved to London and De Vos went to work for Vivienne Westwood, whilst Pilotto started his own small collection, where he quickly became one of the first designers to embrace digital print technology. De Vos later joined him and together they became a synergy of color, draping and distinctive prints.
The designer duo have been able to take advantage of the "Pioneering Programme" run by the Centre for Fashion Enterprise which offers financial and business support for up-and-coming designers. This has allowed them to worked out of rent-free premises belonging to the London College of Fashion, which they also share with other new young designers.
The Future for Peter Pilotto
The popularity of the Pilatto's digitalized patterns and draped dresses in just three short years has proved that the the design duo has hit on the perfect recipe — a fusion of Pilotto’s prints and De Vos’s draping. From small beginnings in the midst of a recession, the future looks brght. Having grown from having 8 stockists and 100 pieces in the first season to 90 stockists and 2,800 pieces, Peter Pilotto appears to be on target to become a big international label.
Gill Hart - Gill Hart is a fashion and image professional who specializes in women's fashion over 50.
