Alia Peer owes her creativity and curiosity to growing up around nature. The isolation of living on a farm among animals and trees, she says, allowed her to be in a constant introspective state. “Now that I spend more time in cities, I treasure that I had so much time to be in my thoughts,” she reveals. “When you’re in nature that’s true freedom,” she continues. This sense of free will and serenity seems to translate into her design philosophy easily.
As Polo South Africa’s creative director since 2011, Peer leads the heritage brand into the future with eco-conscious values and timeless garments. Her collections are characterised by everyday wardrobe essentials in neutral colours and plush natural fibres like homegrown Merino wool.
At some point during our call, Peer excitedly shared her recent experiment that involves burying a 100 per cent Merino wool knit and a 100 per cent acrylic knit to determine the rate of decomposition. It’s with this same spirit of exploration and learning that she approaches her work.
You were exposed to the business of fashion from a young age. What was that experience like growing up? My parents were in the denim business so they had an office with a factory. And I spent a lot of time with the seamstresses in the studio. It was a lot of fun. I think as a child when you’re in an environment that is not your ordinary space, you’re curious. My parents were also retailers and we would go to the store. It’s interesting to see an entire business from a head office to the retail customer-facing front as a child.
What was studying fashion at Central Saint Martins like? I had an early love of clothes through observing garments from a young age. At thirteen I knew I wanted to have a career in fashion so at sixteen I did a summer fashion illustration course at the London College of Fashion. When I returned home, I was like this is really what I want to do. When I finished high school, I moved to London and went to Central Saint Martins to study fashion. It was a tough and very demanding environment but it was incredible.
How would you describe your approach to design?
The goal is to create dependable pieces that you can wear over and over again. It’s not clothes to impress anyone or to be making style statements. It’s clothes for yourself that you can enjoy and that you’re gonna feel good in.
What motivates you? Talking to customers. I love talking to people because you learn so much through conversation. A lot of my ideas come from conversation. I’m also interested in seeing what the potential is in waste products and fabric innovations and how we can develop new fabrics.
How can people and brands be more sustainable? Our relationship with clothing has to change. I think it’s become so unhealthy. Clothes have to last long and they cannot be disposable. We also need to foster closer relationships and support each other. From schools, universities, fashion students, factories, and mills, we all need to work closer.
Who is your favourite designer right now and why? God is the ultimate designer. The design of nature is just exceptional. It’s never boring or the same. There’s so much life in it.
Visit www.polo.co.za for more.
