Sheria Na Mavazi!

You Need To Know-Designer Peter Som.

Peter Som's obsession with fashion began in the fifth grade while paging through copies of his older sister's fashion magazines. The look of Lauren Hutton in a crisp khaki suit; Lisa Taylor, hair flying in the wind, driving her car across the George Washington Bridge; Andie McDowell in a linen duster, eclining in an Adironack chair. These images, and more , prompted him to start sketchinge and he never stopped.

Of chinese descent, Peter was raised in San Francisco by parents who were both architects, and who instilled in him the ideal of purity of form, function and composition that have become hallmarks of his collection. Today, Peter designs clothes for real women with that same spirit. Effortless. Clean. Simply luxurious.

At Connecticut College, Peter studied and excelled in art and art history. He went on to graduate from the Parsons School of Design, after which, he honed his skills in the design rooms of some of America's most revered designers œ Bill Blass, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. In 1997, he was recognizd by the CFDA as a rising young talent in their Scholarship Competition. Lord & Taylor reaffirmed his potential in their annual Thimble for his remarkable work. This past June at the American Fashion Awards, Peter was honored with accepting the Lifetime Achievement award on the behalf of Mr. Blass, who could not attend.

Peter's breakthrough debut collection, presented in the Fall of 1999 œ met with accolades from buyers and members of the press alike. In fact, he was noted by Vogue as one to watch in their esteemed "Index." His work has also been featued in such publications as WWD, Vogue, Elle, Mirabella, Glamour and Mademoiselle, as well as CNN Style with Elsa Klensch, HBO's ÔSex & the City', MTV and E!. As a full-fledged member of a new generation of designers, Peter is leading the tradition of Great American Sportswear firmly into the 21st century.