Atlas of Fashion Designers

133

Cathy Pill

Cathy Pill



 e darling designer of French fashion was born in Belgium, where she studied at the Su-

perior School of Fine Arts, quickly evolving from a young promise into an award-winning

designer. On her bright trajectory to stardom, she has worked for such big names as A.F.

Vandevorst, Vivienne Westwood, and Rochas. Her collection, Blink, was exhibited at the

Louvre’s Museum of Decorative Arts; and after very few collections, her label can be found

in Australia, Austria, Japan, Belgium, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Spain, and

Saudi Arabia.

To what is owed so much success in so little time? Cathy Pill creates beautiful, meticulous

clothing. Vaporous dresses with an exquisite fi nish, perfect patterns, and surprising prints.

With modernist echoes, her garments acknowledge this style without being shrill about it.

Her studied, polished simplicity transforms a woman into a gorgeous effi gy, salvaging the

mysterious quality of another time through a modern, essentialist design.

 is is because every last detail on a Cathy Pill creation abounds with good taste and deli-

cacy. Hers is an aesthetic universe which unostentatiously recreates a feminine woman with

silk dresses, insinuating shadows, and draped silhouettes. Cathy has demonstrated her skill

for rehabilitating a kind of harmonious sophistication that gives rise to beauty naturally,

free of artifi ce and pretense, through her more than proven mastery of volumes.All of this

makes her one of the most promising designers of a generation trained by such brilliant

and renowned fi gures as Vandevorst and the great Westwood. A priceless gem of the latest

generation.

© Gregory Derkenne

134

Cathy Pill

© Gregory Derkenne

135

Cathy Pill

Carving out a niche for oneself on

the demanding Paris runway is no

easy task, but Cathy Pill has done

precisely this, thanks to the strength of

her personality and the exquisite care

she takes with her ethereal cuts and

exceptional prints.

© Gregory Derkenne

136

Cathy Pill

- What inspires you?

I’m greatly inspired by structures and architecture. I’m working with my eyes and fi ngers. I’m not a storyteller in my

collections; I’m more expressing feelings or ideas.  e art nouveau period is a great inspiration for me, especially the

idea that every detail has a sense of being and is a part of a global structure.

- What is your dream as a designer?

Working further on my designs, expanding the collections with assorted accessories, continuing to experience other

fi elds in the art and exploring the world a lot better.

- What has been the most important achievement of your career?

To see women wearing my clothes with pleasure.

- How important are trends?

Not as important as having your own style. People are fi nally searching for a real personality. Trends are changing; a

personal style is not.

- Fashion has always refl ected a certain era. What does fashion refl ect in the twenty-fi rst century?

 e world has become very small in the twenty-fi rst century. People are constantly curious, searching for new volumes,

new techniques, new technology, always wanting to go further, forever.

- What book would you recommend to every fashion designer?

Vionnet by Jacqueline Demornex (Éditions du Regard).

Cathy Pill

7, rue d’Alost

1000 Brussels

Belgium

www.cathypill.com

137

Cathy Pill

© Raf  ienpont