Pete Cant
I taught myself to sew because I couldn’t find clothes I wanted to wear in the shops, which gives me a unique perspective on how to make clothes. I mainly make for myself and enjoy pushing the boundaries of androgynous clothing and unusual details.
Draping (the process of organically shaping clothes on a mannequin or model) is a particular passion of mine as the dynamic nature of not following a pattern can achieve looks simply not possible through paper pattern use, and the exciting shapes and concepts that can come out of mistakes or unexpected movements of the fabric enables creativity and unexpected outcomes.
When I teach my main focus is to inspire people to try new things and give them the tools they need to translate their creations into useable, re-creatable patterns and transfer that knowledge to other projects.
Career Highlights and Achievements
I was a contestant on the 2020 BBC 1 series of The Great British Sewing Bee, during which I won a number of the challenges set under difficult time constraints. I have been published in national crafting press contributing column, feature articles and sewing tips. I have also become a brand ambassador for a jewellery company after wearing a number of their items on the television show.
Inspirations
In terms of clothing and fashion, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and HRH The Queen Elizabeth II have been major influences on my style, but I also follow many of the large fashion houses to gain ideas. Dior, Givenchy, Comme De Garcon, Burberry, Issey Miyake are particular favourites. However, I also gain much inspiration from street style and art (such as Mona Hatoum, Alexander Rodshenko, Banksey, I_am_sprite), graffiti and science fiction, graphic design and history, nature and consumerist culture, literature and comic books.
I like to melt any and all of these influences down to their most enticing elements then combine them with my personal style and each other to create my wardrobe and my living environment. I never stop looking at all the beauty in the world and I aim to contribute to the thought provoking gallery of art that is the modern world.
Other Interests
As well as making clothes I am obsessed with almost all forms of creativity, I regularly use silk screen printing to achieve the looks I am imagining. I write fairly regularly for myself (prose and short stories, one day I will attempt a novel) and for publications in and out of the crafting world.
I have dipped my toe into the world of throwing pottery on the wheel and am very excited to continue down that avenue when I have the chance. I also have a working knowledge and interest in photography, metal work, wood turning, millinery, cobbling, painting, interior design and 3D modelling and casting. My current favourite sideline obsession is thermochromic pigments, which I have used to paint my kettle and a small number of the tiles in my shower.
Draping (the process of organically shaping clothes on a mannequin or model) is a particular passion of mine as the dynamic nature of not following a pattern can achieve looks simply not possible through paper pattern use, and the exciting shapes and concepts that can come out of mistakes or unexpected movements of the fabric enables creativity and unexpected outcomes.
When I teach my main focus is to inspire people to try new things and give them the tools they need to translate their creations into useable, re-creatable patterns and transfer that knowledge to other projects.
Career Highlights and Achievements
I was a contestant on the 2020 BBC 1 series of The Great British Sewing Bee, during which I won a number of the challenges set under difficult time constraints. I have been published in national crafting press contributing column, feature articles and sewing tips. I have also become a brand ambassador for a jewellery company after wearing a number of their items on the television show.
Inspirations
In terms of clothing and fashion, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and HRH The Queen Elizabeth II have been major influences on my style, but I also follow many of the large fashion houses to gain ideas. Dior, Givenchy, Comme De Garcon, Burberry, Issey Miyake are particular favourites. However, I also gain much inspiration from street style and art (such as Mona Hatoum, Alexander Rodshenko, Banksey, I_am_sprite), graffiti and science fiction, graphic design and history, nature and consumerist culture, literature and comic books.
I like to melt any and all of these influences down to their most enticing elements then combine them with my personal style and each other to create my wardrobe and my living environment. I never stop looking at all the beauty in the world and I aim to contribute to the thought provoking gallery of art that is the modern world.
Other Interests
As well as making clothes I am obsessed with almost all forms of creativity, I regularly use silk screen printing to achieve the looks I am imagining. I write fairly regularly for myself (prose and short stories, one day I will attempt a novel) and for publications in and out of the crafting world.
I have dipped my toe into the world of throwing pottery on the wheel and am very excited to continue down that avenue when I have the chance. I also have a working knowledge and interest in photography, metal work, wood turning, millinery, cobbling, painting, interior design and 3D modelling and casting. My current favourite sideline obsession is thermochromic pigments, which I have used to paint my kettle and a small number of the tiles in my shower.