New Look

With industry innovations and a star-studded roster of clients, designer Peter Dundas is changing the shape of fashion

- Laurie Brookins

AS THE OWNER of his eponymous label since 2017, Peter Dundas enjoys an undeniable freedom in the when, where and why of his collections. He got his start as an assistant in Jean Paul Gaultier’s studio following his 1990 graduation from New York’s Parsons School of Design, and in the ensuing years served as creative director for the houses of Emanuel Ungaro, Emilio Pucci and Roberto Cavalli. That’s an incredible pedigree, but if his work for the label that bears his own name feels decidedly liberated, and perhaps more than a bit joyful, that’s no accident.

For Fall 2023, that idea translates to a distinctly personal take on his influences. “I really looked at it as a love letter to my family and my heritage,” Dundas explains. “We have two small children now, and when that happens, you spend a lot more time thinking about where you came from and looking at old family photos, so that really became the inspiration for this collection.”