Meet Kathleen Kersey, the Inspiration Behind Our Woodland Rhapsody Print

What if a garment could unfold not only with a child’s growth, but also with stories of creativity passed down through generations?

Patterns in Play is Petit Pli’s newest limited‑edition collaboration with the V&A. A collaboration to celebrate creativity, design heritage and cultural discovery. Each piece in the collection is an expandable garment brought to life with prints adapted from the museum’s archives, ready for LittleHumans to wear, explore and grow into, up to 7 sizes.

Among the three extraordinary artists whose work shapes this collection, today we turn to Kathleen Kersey (b. 1889), a designer who filled her work with birds, animals and flowing natural forms, creating textiles that feel both playful and alive.

Shot by Ana Margarita Flores

About Kathleen Kersey

Kathleen Kersey (b. 1889) was a British designer whose career flourished in the early 20th century, creating textiles and wallpapers that carried forward the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement. She worked with Morris & Co., the influential collective of artists and makers, and became known for her ability to weave the natural world into decorative design.

Her patterns often featured flowing leaves, blossoms, and animals, arranged in rhythmic repeats that feel both calm and full of life. These designs captured the spirit of nature in motion, transforming everyday interiors into spaces alive with quiet playfulness.

Our Woodland Rhapsody print is inspired by this legacy: a design where hidden creatures and soft, organic forms invite LittleHumans to look closer, sparking curiosity and discovery amongst the folds.

Hidden Print Amongst the Pleats

Look a little closer and you’ll uncover more than just a pattern. Tucked within the folds of each garment is a playful “hidden-in-scene” game, designed to invite LittleHumans to pause, notice and see their expandable clothing as something alive, curious, and interactive.

What animals, plants and colours will your LittleHuman spot?

By adapting treasures from the V&A’s archives into Clothes That Grow, we hope to spark LittleHumans curiosity beyond the gallery walls onto a journey of creativity inspired by design history discovery.

Unfolding Design History

For Petit Pli, this collaboration is about inviting families to step into creativity and explore design history in a way that feels hands‑on, joyful and easy to appreciate.

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.

Shot by Visit London - Official Visitors Guide

Petit Pli continues to ask how design can better serve both people and planet. For Patterns in Play, we’re delighted to collaborate with the V&A to celebrate creativity and unfold how it inspires our lives and connects one generation to the next.

Discover the Patterns in Play collection with your LittleHumans today in-store and online.