Petit Pli | V&A: Patterns in Play Collaboration

Petit Pli | V&A: Patterns in Play Collaboration

This collaboration launches Saturday, 1st November 2025 at 15:00 GMT. Sign up to our email list to be notified.

 

Designed in collaboration with the V&A, this limited-edition collection celebrates the power of creativity and invites families to see the museum as a place of curiosity and discovery.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been dreaming up an AW25 collection with the V&A that champions creativity and play.

Each expandable garment features a print adapted from artwork by: Katsushika Hokusai, Kathleen Kersey & Mary Yonge. Together, they form a collection that guides LittleHumans through design history with a playful hidden‑in‑the‑scene game amongst the pleats.

Photographed by Ana Margarita Flores

Introducing the People Behind the Prints

Each limited edition print of the Patterns in Play collection is adapted from original artworks from the V&A Archives.

  • Mary Yonge (1908-2010), a textile artist who studied at the Central School of Arts (which became Central Saint Martins) and later taught in London. In the 1960s and 70s she was known for her bold, playful patterns for clothes and furnishings. Our Puzzle Weave print is full of fun, where hidden shapes invite a second look.

  • Kathleen Kersey (b. 1889) was a designer and teacher at West London School of Art, celebrated for her lively textile patterns. She often wove animals and birds into abstract shapes, creating drawings that feel both playful and imaginative. Our Woodland Rhapsody print is perfect for sparking curiosity in young eyes.

  • Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is one of Japan’s most famous artists, best known for his woodblock prints and over 70,000 works of art. His magical depictions of animals and nature continue to inspire wonder. Our Drawings in One Stroke print is a testament to how creativity can transform the everyday into something extraordinary.

Each artwork was handpicked to reflect the ever-evolving spirit of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s national collection, and to speak in a visual language little eyes can understand. We hope to spark moments of wonder, inviting LittleHumans to discover familiar shapes, colours, and stories that echo softly from their clothing into the world around them.

 

A Museum of 5,000 Years of Creativity

The V&A celebrates design and creativity in all its forms. It was founded in London in 1852 to advance cultural knowledge and inspire makers, creators and innovators everywhere through a diverse collection of objects from around the world.

Today, the V&A continues to share a 5,000-year-old story of creativity, through its ever-evolving collection spanning every creative discipline, from art, design, fashion, photography and furniture to theatre, performance, architecture, and ceramics. 

Its archives provide unrivalled inspiration, sparking the imagination of people across the world.

From Albertopolis came Petit Pli

The V&A sits at the heart of Albertopolis, Prince Albert’s vision of a district where art, science and education would advance together. Stretching from the Museums & music institutions to the Royal College of Art & Imperial College London, it remains one of the world’s most creative corridors.

Petit Pli was born on that very street, in the Royal College of Art and Imperial College. What began as an experiment in material technology has become a movement in responsible design for LittleHumans.

This collaboration with the V&A feels like a full circle moment. To be part of an institution that shaped our city’s creative legacy, and now holds Petit Pli within its archive, is a huge milestone in our journey. Perhaps one day, our work will spark the imagination of the next generation of creators!

 

Patterns in Play is more than a collection. It’s an invitation for families to explore design, discover hidden details, and grow a little closer to the world of creativity together. Designed to grow with their imagination, and keep curious minds engaged while you take a moment to focus.

The Pattern in Play collection of Clothes That Grow is available in sizes:

  • TinyHuman (Newborn 0 to 1 Year)
  • MiniHuman (Toddler 9 Months to 4 Years)
  • Little Humans (Child 4-9 Years)

 

Shop the Pattern in Play collection in store at Petit Pli’s Flagship store in Battersea Power Station, as well as online.