Peter Copping is a British fashion designer renowned for his refined, romantic aesthetic and commitment to the traditions of couture. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has held senior creative roles at some of the most storied houses in fashion, including Louis Vuitton, Nina Ricci, and Oscar de la Renta. In 2023, he was appointed Creative Director of Lanvin, France’s oldest couture house.

Drawing has always been at the heart of Copping’s practice—a foundational tool for exploring silhouette, proportion, and style. The works presented here, drawn from the Fashion Illustration Gallery archive, offer an intimate view into this essential part of his creative process. These fashion drawings—many of them early ideas for dresses—reflect not only the beginnings of design but also a complete artistic expression in their own right.

Poised between spontaneity and control, Copping’s illustrations speak to a lifelong fluency in line, texture, and pattern. They are both preparatory and complete—windows into the private world of one of fashion’s most thoughtful image-makers.