Andre Walker

Pendleton recently had the opportunity to work with renowned designer Andre Walker on a collection for Paris Fashion Week. Andre has an outstanding track record with fashion press and retailers. Every time he launches a collection, the fashion world swoons.

Andre, like Pendleton, is American. He is known for his freeform, hand-cut designs, described by the New York Times as, “His coats and jackets eel around the body, wrapping, tying or buttoning." His designs have generated a tremendous amount of excitement since he staged his first show at a New York nightclub when he was just fifteen years old.

Andre worked with Willi Smith in the 80s. With his own label, he won the prestigious ANDAM fashion prize in 2000. He created outstanding work for Comme des Garcons under his And Re Walker label in the 2010s, and worked as a consultant for Kim Jones and Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton in the years since.

Andre and Pendleton

We met him Andre in person at our New York showroom during Press Week last spring, and then came home and hustled to get him various weights and colors of our USA-woven wool fabrics. We sent fabrics in a variety of weaves and textures, and Glacier National Park blankets.

Andre transformed our textiles into recreations of his androgynous one-sized designs. The 21 looks Walker showed were based on pieces he designed between 1982 and 1986. He reclaimed long-lost looks from friends and collectors the world over to use for patterning. The show was held on the steps of the Musée des Art Décoratifs in Paris, and generated fantastic press.

It was awesome to work with Andre. He is absolutely the sweetest person ever, so sincere and authentic with an amazing design sense.