Petit Pli

The brand's pleated materials expand and shrink to fit individual bodies/ Source: Petit Pli

EuropeTextiles

4 MINUTE READ

Jessica Harman

WHAT WE SAY:

What if we only had to buy clothing once? Clothing that grows with you. With growth, size fluctuations, and changing needs this might sound like an impossible ideal, however innovative designer Petit Pli has created clothing that caters to all of those changes. The realities of one-size-for-life are debatable, but the cost saving benefits and lifelong repair guarantee make it a tempting idea.

KEY FACTS:

Petit Pli is a size adaptive clothing brand that expands and adapts as the wearer grows.
Founded in 2017, the brand itself is rapidly expanding too, growing from children's wear to include adult styles and accessories.
Petit Pli’s first collection was aimed at kids aged four to 36 months, and featured waterproof and windproof outerwear that used a bi-directional pleated construction to allow the garment to expand and stretch. This has remained the blueprint for further styles and age ranges.
Durability is key, with reinforced panels strong enough to withstand crawling and climbing across ages. Petit Pli also offers a free repairs programme to keep garments in use for longer.
The brand was founded by aeronautical engineer and RCA Innovative Design Engineering graduate, Ryan Mario Yasin, who has used his understanding of lightweight materials and packing ratios to enable the garments to hold their shape and expand as required.
The pleated design of the clothing is heavily influenced by Yasin’s aeronautical background, with his understanding of expandable folding techniques playing a key role in creating versatile and resilient designs.
Garments are made from 100% recycled polyester, derived from recycled plastic bottles. They are machine washable and able to retain their structure and pleats while remaining free from harmful chemicals and being Oeko-Tex 100 approved.
With a price point of GBP 79 (USD 93) for MiniHuman Dungarees, Petit Pli is also testing a subscription model to make its products more accessible, and keep them in circulation for longer.

Expandable Adult Inner Gilet / Source: Petit Pli

Petit Pli's childrenswear / Source: Petit Pli

DIVE DEEPER:

Around 183 million items of outgrown children's clothing sit unused every year in the UK, according to research from charity Hubbub.
While the average family spends GBP 11,000 (USD 13,415) on children's clothing, a third of parents admit to throwing clothing in the bin once it's outgrown, resulting in both economic and resource waste.
With each piece of Petit Pli clothing growing seven sizes, and with a cost per size of GBP 11.29 (USD 13.77), parents have the potential to make both long-term economic and environmental savings.
Designed from a blank slate, rather than as a miniaturised version of adult clothing, Petit Pli has won a number of awards for its fresh approach to design. In 2017 it was awarded the James Dyson award, and in 2020 was acknowledged by Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2020 in the Retail and E-Commerce category.
Petit Pli produces its styles in three sizes for children. Tinyhuman, newborn to 12 months, MiniHuman, which grows from nine months to four years, and LittleHuman from four to 10 years old. Though it’s not quite a one-size-fits-all approach, the adaptability of the garment throughout those stages cuts down on the average need for new children's clothing every three months.
The pandemic saw Petit Pli broaden its horizons beyond kidswear, as it looked to transform disposable masks. Its MSK design made from recycled bottles was designed for reuse while adapting to sit comfortably on every face. The mask went on to win Time Magazine's award for Best Invention of 2020.
In 2021, Petit Pli launched its first range of adult apparel, consisting of a unisex gilet and maternity trousers.
In 2023 it moved beyond pleated adaptability to create its Entropy Vest, which is adaptable through the use of a phase change material, catering to different weather conditions and offering one garment for a variety of scenarios. The non-toxic chemical solution is able to store heat that's released on demand when needed.

"Petit Pli Adultwear is soft and comfortable for ease of movement and expands across the bust, under arms and around the bump...to ensure fit,"

Ryan Mario Yasin – Petit Pli, Founder – as quoted in Dezeen

Key Design Considerations:

Communicate sustainable care

Petit Pli is clear on the reasons for using recycled polyester, choosing it for its durability and longevity. While it does offer more durability than the majority of cotton or natural fibre constructions, it also has a higher environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. Annually washing clothes releases 500,000 tonnes of microfibers into the ocean, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. Consider how you can communicate to your customers how to best care for their garments to avoid adding to this load, or perhaps you can innovate to include biodegradable fibre options?

Consider audience uptake

Fans of Issey Miyake may jump at the chance to dress their offspring in pleats, but it's not an aesthetic for everyone. First-time parents may be seeking to style their children in line with trends, or be driven by financial and physical accessibility when it comes to selecting their children's clothing. Pleats certainly hold a strong niche market, but are they other ways you can add size adaptability using panels or stretch fabrics?

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Petit Pli

WHAT WE SAY:

KEY FACTS:

DIVE DEEPER:

Around 183 million items of outgrown children's clothing sit unused every year in the UK, according to research from charity Hubbub.

While the average family spends GBP 11,000 (USD 13,415) on children's clothing, a third of parents admit to throwing clothing in the bin once it's outgrown, resulting in both economic and resource waste.

With each piece of Petit Pli clothing growing seven sizes, and with a cost per size of GBP 11.29 (USD 13.77), parents have the potential to make both long-term economic and environmental savings.

The pandemic saw Petit Pli broaden its horizons beyond kidswear, as it looked to transform disposable masks. Its MSK design made from recycled bottles was designed for reuse while adapting to sit comfortably on every face. The mask went on to win Time Magazine's award for Best Invention of 2020.

In 2021, Petit Pli launched its first range of adult apparel, consisting of a unisex gilet and maternity trousers.

Ryan Mario Yasin – Petit Pli, Founder – as quoted in Dezeen

Key Design Considerations:

Communicate sustainable care

Consider audience uptake

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