True to his peripatetic nature, Peter Dundas navigated the rocky circumstances of lockdown in different parts of the world, from Chicago to Greece. Like many of his fellow designers, he had the time to confront the meaning of his work. “My father wanted me to train as a doctor,” he said, speaking from London via Zoom. “I wondered many times during my quarantine if I should’ve followed his advice. It [probably] would’ve been a more useful choice.” Then he reflected: “But in the end, fashion can also serve the purpose of making people feel good about themselves. It can be uplifting; it can improve self-confidence and a positive attitude towards life. I try to bring a bit of joy to the women who choose to wear the dresses I design. I’m very grateful to them; their support has allowed me to follow my true passion.”
Dundas’s niche brand seems to have weathered the pandemic rather well. He launched it in 2017, pioneering an independent formula with an agile, flexible structure, shunning the official fashion calendar’s grinding pace for a more sustainable rhythm of production and presentations. In the years since, his offering has slowly expanded into more categories; in addition to glam ready-to-wear, he now makes activewear, swimwear, and eyewear. He certainly hasn’t been idle during quarantine. A shiny little box was sent as a gift to friends and clients, containing the most fabulous masks printed in animalier spots and bright florals. “I’m working on producing them for children too,” he said, showing off an adorable, tiny leopard-printed mask from the other side of the computer screen.
The D14 collection, shot in a marble cave on a Greek island, was Dundas to the core—think tiger-printed see-through chiffon numbers opening to reveal sexy brassieres and shorts from the activewear line, or strong-shouldered, form-fitting ’80s minidresses with ultra-plunging necklines. Yet the WFH situation we’ve all experienced has forced Dundas customers to (at least temporarily) curtail their globetrotting lifestyle. They asked for easier daywear options: less glitz and more loungewear, which he promptly added to the collection. Pajamas and flowing robes in sensuous satin and silk georgette had the decadent, luxurious Dundas touch. When we’re able to party again, they’ll transition from the bedroom to the dance floor in no time.
