Meet Katsushika Hokusai, the Inspiration Behind Our Drawings in One Stroke Print
What if clothing could grow with your LittleHuman while unfolding stories of creativity at the same time?
Patterns in Play is Petit Pli’s latest collaboration with the V&A, a shared celebration of imagination, design legacy and cultural exploration. Each of the three limited-edition expandable garments in the collection features a print adapted from the museum’s archives, designed for LittleHumans to wear, explore and grow into by expanding up to 7 sizes.
Among the three visionary artists whose work inspired this collection, today we spotlight Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), one of Japan’s most celebrated artists, whose expressive brushwork and nature-inspired compositions continue to spark curiosity and awe across the globe.
Shot by Ana Margarita Flores
About Katsushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) was a Japanese artist whose work reshaped the world of printmaking and helped define the ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints. Over a career that spanned more than 70 years, he created thousands of artworks inspired by the natural world and everyday life in Edo-period Japan.
Hokusai’s art is known for its fluid lines, bold compositions, and deep sense of movement. From crashing waves to soaring birds and swirling clouds, his work captures nature in motion often with a sense of wonder and playfulness that still resonates today.
Our Drawings in One Stroke print draws from this legacy: a design that celebrates simplicity, flow, and the joy of mark-making. It invites LittleHumans to trace lines with their eyes and imagination, discovering new shapes and stories within every fold.
Hidden Prints Within the Pleats
Look beyond the pleats and you’ll discover more than a pattern and you’ll be met by hidden animals. Inside the print of each expandable garment is a playful “hidden-in-scene” activity, encouraging LittleHumans to pause, explore and experience their clothing as something alive, curious and interactive.
By adapting artwork from the V&A archives into Patterns In Play Prints, Petit Pli hopes to spark curiosity that stretches beyond a family day out, inspiring a journey of creativity, storytelling and design discovery for the next generation. What animals will your LittleHuman spot?
Fabric of Design History
For Petit Pli, this collaboration is focused on inviting families to step into creativity and explore design history in a way that feels hands‑on, joyful and inspiring.
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 Visitor Guide
Petit Pli continues to challenge design to better serve both people and planet.
We are proud to collaborate with the V&A to celebrate creativity with Patterns in Play. Together, we hope to inspire moments of curiosity for LittleHumans as they begin to spot familiar shapes, colours, and themes within their expandable garments.
Explore the Patterns in Play collection with your LittleHuman, in‑store or online.
