London-based fashion designer Patrick McDowell is the Sustainability Creative Director at Italian womenswear brand, Pinko. McDowell, instrumental in advancing PINKO’s sustainability efforts as Sustainability Design Director since 2020, will now lead the fashion brand’s creative strategies with a focus on sustainability and innovative design.

Reimagine by Patrick McDowell. Image Source: www.pinko.com

Patrick McDowell, who established his eponymous fashion label in 2018, has also made significant contributions to sustainability through his role with PINKO. From December 2020, McDowell dedicated three years to the Italian fashion brand, where he focused on integrating sustainable practices within the processes. In his new position, McDowell will oversee Pinko’s main collections and spearhead collaborations under his own name. His role will also involve introducing a refreshed design vision and advancing sustainable circular practices across the brand’s offerings.

In a LinkedIn post, McDowell expressed his enthusiasm for continuing his journey with PINKO while managing his own label, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Sustainability Creative Director at PINKO… Gaining invaluable experience in big business and implementing sustainable design lead product to a network of hundreds of stores globally. I feel lucky to be able to create one off bespoke pieces at my own brand and tackle sustainability in a bigger way with PINKO.”

The evolution of PINKO’s contemporary collections

The brainchild of Chairman and CEO Pietro Negra and his wife Cristina Rubini, PINKO was founded in the late eighties as a response to the fashion needs of independent, fashion- conscious women. The collections stand out for their unique, contemporary style. Special projects and capsule collections developed with designers and stylists including Mark Fast, Alessandra Facchinetti, Marina Spadafora, Viviana Volpicella and Nicola Brognano are a perfect illustration of the brand’s dynamic approach.

PINKO. Image Source: www.pinko.com

Digital Security: How PINKO Uses NFTs and Blockchain to Protect Purchases

The Italian womenswear brand’s commitment to protecting customers against counterfeits is one of its priorities. The company has invested in robust authentication technologies that widens the distance between its authentic products and counterfeits. Per the website, ‘…by linking the serial number of an individual product to a specific customer, we will be able to uncover any parallel market phenomena. Moreover a “digital twin”—an NFT accompanying each product and further securing it through the use of blockchain technology—has been integrated into the authentication process.’

To ensure stringent security and authenticity, products must be verified through the RFID tag sewn into the Love Bag. By positioning a smartphone near the embroidered birds on the back of the bag, customers can initiate the verification process. This advanced technology allows the brand to provide customers with the highest level of security regarding the authenticity of their purchase.

Patrick McDowell: Pioneering the spheres of creativity in sustainable fashion

Known for his edgy, bold design aesthetic rooted in a commitment to sustainability, Patrick McDowell started assisting the mainline womenswear design team at Burberry with then chief creative officer and CEO Christopher Bailey in 2016, while studying womenswear design at Central Saint Martins. He told Fashion Minority Report: “I jumped into a year-long gig at Burberry. It was fascinating because I transitioned from this hyper-creative second year vibe to the more structured and traditional environment at Burberry, especially since I was on the mainline team. You know, the team responsible for the clothes people actually buy. So I was looking at things from a more traditional lens.”

Patrick McDowell’s eponymous label is a London-based independent, sustainable, luxury fashion brand. Over the last five years, the luxury fashion brand has solidified itself on the global fashion landscape through its commitment to sustainable and circular business practices that never compromises on quality or creativity. Creative Director, Patrick McDowell, has been recognised for building a dynamic sustainable business model for the fashion industry, for the London Fashion Week shows and dressing some of the most exciting, emerging and established talent worldwide. Per the official website, ‘Leading with sustainability at our core, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional products and unparalleled customer experiences that not only exceed expectations but also prioritise the well-being of our planet. By combining these values, we are creating a luxury brand that is responsible and forward-thinking.’

His first project with womenswear brand PINKO was an upcycled capsule, ‘Reimagine by Patrick McDowell’, which featured patchwork denim, sequinned shirts and outerwear, accessorised with handbags. Per WWD: “In keeping with his low-carbon footprint approach to fashion, he and Pinko creative director Caterina Negra developed a capsule crafted from Pinko’s discarded pieces, which were deconstructed and reconstructed to create new designs, combining McDowell’s signature style and Pinko’s glam appeal.” 

Reimagine by Patrick McDowell. Image Source: www.pinko.com

There was no looking back since. Following the success of the capsule collection, PINKO named Patrick McDowell its Sustainability Design Director, tasked with working alongside Creative Director Caterina Negra to forge a more responsible future for the brand. McDowell’s continued efforts towards evolving and developing a sustainable approach to fashion has resulted in an upward career trajectory. He will continue to work on his own eponymous brand and will be participating in London Fashion Week SS25 aside taking on his new responsibilities at PINKO.