BILLET 6

Clio Peppiat’s boldly coloured and painstakingly detailed designs pack a real feminine, feminist punch.

The 24-year-old, South London-based designer recently presented her sci-fi inspired SS16 Collection “Kiss the Future” at London Fashion Week. Drawing from cult sci-fi films like Blade Runner and The Fifth Element, Peppiat brings laser stun guns and UFOs into her signature mix of kitsch and cute.

But make no mistake, as cute and girly as all that bubblegum pink and Polly Pocket purple may be, Peppiatt’s foundational philosophy is nothing to belittle. Since launching her label in 2014, Clio Peppiatt has made a point of exploring femininity in her designs, with the primary mandate of her work being to allow women to feel “happy, bold, and fearless.”

Everything she creates, from the purple leopard prints to the smiling cartoon clouds, unapologetically embraces the traditional “girly.” Her process also incorporates techniques historically associated with women and domestic crafts such as embroidery, crochet, and beading. All of these elements come together as Peppiatt builds each piece in layers of texture and colour from holographic latex to orange fur trim to sparkly rainbow appliqués.

Above all, Peppiat’s creations are just positive and fun. The SS16 collection, for instance, features silver beaded alien heads over a sheer purple top. Another piece sees a cat chasing a sparkly computer “mouse” over lavender and eggplant leather. All of the handbags of the collection, in addition to being decked out in hot pink snake print and happy silver clouds, have built in portable chargers for the tech-savvy modern lady. Peppiatt truly makes the future for women look shiny and adorable.

For more pictures, go to: http://thefineprintmagazine.com/clio-peppiat-ss16/

Please contact Estelle Gervais by email for more information.