RICHARD PETIT. PAPILLION DESIGN

10/13/2016

Migration brings change, Change brings New Beginnings, New Beginnings bring an Evolution of ME.”
SPOTLIGHT: Fashion with integrity,

The celebrity culture is so strong right now, if Beyonce or Rihanna put their name on something it can create a major trend in itself." . I can say the same for designer Richard P. Naturally everything he designed turns into GOLD.

After months of practically being a mere facebook stalker with Richard, I soon had the pleasure of interviewing him after his first run at NYFW.

No question about it, papillon delivered quite a mixture of high fashion couture, effortless glam, and sophisticated edge

Richard Petit - Papillon Design

Can you tell me about yourself Richard?
I am of Haitian descent. I was born in Cap-Haitian in Haiti. My father, Paul Ranold Petit and my mother, Gladys Jacqueline Castel both left Haiti and moved to Miami, Florida to make a better living for themselves and their family. Soon after they arrived in Miami, they sent for me to come and live with them.
When I was very young, I would amuse myself by drawing landscapes, human forms and portraits. In addition to creating art, I also heavily influenced by listening to music. I was 11 years old was when I first discovered fashion and once I left elementary school and moved on the junior high school, my hunger for fashion took off. I realized that my ability to draw along with my eye for color meant that I had a calling for the fashion arts. I took art classes and began to create magazines and booklets for each fashion season. By the time I got to high school, I started designing fashion for the real-world challenges that were presented to me by school. During my senior year, I had the desire t venture into formal dresses. I continued my fashion journey by enrolling at Keiser University’s Fashion Design and Merchandising program. It was here that my design brand Papillon was born.

What is papillon design?
Papillon Dezign is actually my alter ego. She is confident, sexy, and sassy with an attitude. She is always on the go and is always the center of attention. Spoiled? Conceited? She doesn't think so. She is a rebel with her own unique style. Call her the “It Girl”. In France she would be considered the “Je ne sais quoi" to my girl”.

Why did you chose that name to represent your craft?
Well Papillon in French means “butterfly” and I compare my life to one. A butterfly has the four typical stages of an insect’s life cycle. The first stage is the eggs that are laid by the female butterfly. These eggs then turn into larvae which is better known as a caterpillar. The third stage is when the caterpillar becomes a fully developed adult and starts to change. This is known as chrysalis. Once this metamorphosis is complete, you then have a butterfly. I, too, feel like I am going through different stages not only in my life but also in my journey as a fashion designer.

How long have you been designing ?
Wow, let me see. I guess the best way to answer this question is to say my whole life. I was always that “art kid”. I was always sketching and coloring. My first piece of art was actually a live portrait of my dad sitting down in a chair with my baby sister on his lap.

What is your favorite part of what you do?
Everything from beginning to end. From “mind sketching” to actually sketching, buying the fabric, cutting the fabric, threading the machine, sewing the actual pieces together, all the way up to completing the actual garment. But it doesn’t stop there. My favorite part of this process is when people come back to me with their feedback. It gives me life.

Do you have anything in store for the future?
To be honest, I try to live and take it one day at a time. Of course there are a lot of things I would love to do but I would rather live in the now and for today. If I do have something in store, I guess it will happen when it happens and when I get to that point…..LOL.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Woah…in the next five years…… Well, hopefully, I will be able to own a store or two, be the one of the hottest designers at Fashion Week every year, and be the most talk about designer at the Emmy’s, Oscars, or any big red carpet event.

Who has been an inspiration for you?
Music plays a big factor when it comes to influencing my designing. I’m also inspired by the greats such as Elie Saab, Versace, Zuhair Murad and Stephane Rolland.

What is your favorite design so far?
That is a very hard question to answer because everything I do I love and would wear LOL. They are all my babies!

If you could design for any celeb who would it be?
Another hard question to answer because I would love to dress them all. But to name a few Beyonce, Michelle Obama, Mariah Carey, and Rihanna.

What is your greatest accomplishment so far?
I would have to say graduating college and having the credentialing to back up what I do.

Have you faced any challenges?
Oh yesssss! With anything you do in life you would always have challenges.

How did you overcome these challenges?
With faith and having tunnel vision.

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Any collabs? or future shows you are excited about?
I was excited to be part of World Fashion Parade for Peace. I also have the cover and a full spread in Creativ Magazine. I was able to collaborate with a great photographer by name of Sulaah Bien-Aime, Smart Model Agency, and the lovely Yordanos who is my heart. I also got a chance to work with the current title holder of Ms. New York Tourism, Fatena Qassem. Hopefully I’ll will also work on something for Miss Guyana and for Miss Universe. In terms of my personal projects, I will work with Janelle LaFond who is a phenomenal stylist from Tampa, Florida. So yeah, stick around.

If you could describe your style in three key words what would they be?
Whimsical, sultry, and fun

Do you have an end goal?
Some may wish for fame, others may want wealth, but my goal is to go back to Haiti and open a fashion school to give back to a gifted kid who shares the same passion that I have.
What would you say to anyone who ever found themselves struggling to be a designer?( any inspirational words)/
Don’t let the world dictate to you. Create your own destiny. My motto is “ Do U”

Special Thanks:

Behind every designer, there are always KEY individuals that take the journey with you. Without their eyes and their input, I would be stuck at the design cross road. Thanks to Giselle Castillo and Bernard Holley. These two have always kept me grounded and focused in fashion. Thanks to my college professor Nelly Tejeda-Rodriguez who is a constant resource. Thank you Dannielle Boyer for begin my supporting me in life. Thank you Corhinn Brunot you are an inspirational entrepreneur and constant support. SHOUT OUT to Creativ Magazine. The first publication i was featured in when I first started. To my Family, Dad i know you are not here physically but I know you are smiling up from above. My Mother my rock and my first love, my Brother Alex and my second rock and best friend Tamara Petit. To Friends ..... Klo Telfort and Nina Graham you both are STAR, Rose for always being there, and many other thank you for standing by my side. To Every Photographers, MUA, Hairstylist's and Model's THANK YOU SO MUCH without you guy i'm nothing.

Last but not least Thank You Briana DeShields for taking time out to reach out and putting this piece together. It's people like you that makes me who I am today and make me want to push and work harder.

CREDITS
Photographer: Dennis Madigan
Model: ( Ms Tourism New York 2016/17) Fatena Qassem
Event; World Fashion Parade
Photographer: Elucid Photography
Photographer: Sulaah Bien-Aime
MUA: Danica Britton
Hairstylist: Louie Takahshi
Model: Yordanos Teshages
Agency: Westhaven Management - Atlas Aranis
Shot at Prospect Park - The Boat House Brooklyn, New York

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