Designer Peter Som at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

Peter Som’s aesthetic of unstudied elegance and refined sexiness has brought a fresh point of view to modern American fashion. Peter grew up in San Francisco, a city known for its easy, relaxed sophistication. His parents–both architects–instilled in him the ideals of purity of form, function and composition. Today, Chinese American Peter continues to draw from these early influences as he designs clothes for tasteful women with that same spirit of effortless elegance, luxury and allure.

Peter excelled in Art History and Art when he attended Connecticut College and chose to continue his studies at Parsons School of Design. While at Parsons, he apprenticed with two of America’s most revered designers – Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. After graduating, Peter honed his skills in the design room of the legendary Bill Blass. In 1997, he was recognized by the CFDA as a rising young talent in it’s first-ever Scholarship Competition. Isaac Mizrahi awarded Peter the Parsons Gold Thimble for his work in the school’s prestigious Designer Critic program while Lord & Taylor reaffirmed his potential in its annual Dress Competition. In 2002, Peter was nominated for the CFDA Perry Ellis Award for Emerging Talent. In 2004, Peter Som was among the 10 semi finalists in the Vogue/CFDA fashion fund initiative. In 2005, he was nominated for a second time for the CFDA Swarovski Perry Ellis Award for Emerging Talent and in 2006 Peter was among the 3 finalists nominated for the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Fashion Design.

Peter Som made his stellar debut at Seventh on Sixth in the Bryant Park tents with his Spring 2001 Collection. Since then, his clean, unfettered yet feminine clothes have been winning accolades from buyers and critics alike. Cathy Horyn of the New York Times identified Peter as “one of the best young designers working today.” Peter’s collections have been included in editorial features in major fashion publications, including Vogue, W, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and InStyle. In response to Peter Som’s Spring 2007 collection, Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley writes “it became emphatically clear that he has moved to the head of his generational class. Magna cum laude, in fact.”

In July 2007 Som announced his return to the house of Bill Blass, this time as creative director of the iconic American brand. In this role, he will oversee the company’s entire women’s collection, including all owned and licensed divisions. His first collection for Bill Blass is expected to be for pre-Fall 2008.

Peter’s following includes a new generation of stylish celebrities and starlets, among them Scarlett Johansson, Claire Danes, Camilla Belle, Mandy Moore and Ginnifer Goodwin.

Having emerged as one of the leaders of a new generation of American designers, Peter Som has a foundation on which to establish a modern luxury fashion and lifestyle brand, reinterpreting the tradition of Great American Sportswear for a new generation.

Runway highlights from Peter Som at Fashion Week New inYork, Spring 2009