Piccadilly started as a mission to create beautiful, functional custom clothing for children but quickly evolved to include styles for adult women that could coordinate. Piccadilly itself is similarly centered around family. They’re a family-owned business made up of a mother, Katherine Pugh, her daughter, Sadie Wilson, and Katherine’s daughter-in-law Courtney Pugh.
The three co-founders started in 2020, bringing their individual passions for fashion into the mix. Together, they shared a desire to make clothing for women who love to feel put together. By creating a corresponding children’s line, they could make effortless style even easier.
“Most people think we’re crazy working so closely as a family, and we can assure you it isn’t without its challenges,” Katherine shares. “However, our love and respect for one another supersedes everything, and our confidence in each other is what ultimately makes Piccadilly work and keeps it fun!”
Katherine explains that there is a beautiful balance between the trio that allows each woman to wear different hats in different seasons.
“We’ve never stopped to assign specific titles because depending on the day or situation, our strengths always complement one another. We certainly step into roles of “the dreamer” or “the detailed one,” but there’s a constant ebb and flow of creativity all around.”
Here, Katherine, Courtney, and Sadie share their side of the story behind Piccadilly.
When did the business form and where did the name of your business come from?
Katherine and Courtney met during a chance encounter on a London tour bus. Katherine’s son, Ben, connected with Courtney back in the states and 10 weeks later…they were engaged. The name Piccadilly is a nod to the ever-echoing tube announcer voice that remained in our heads following this trip: “Next Stop, Piccadilly Circus!” It’s the best reminder of when our families first united.
Where does your love of fashion come from?
Over the years, we’ve all expressed our love of fashion and creating things with our hands in different ways. Sadie co-founded a bowtie business in high school and now works as a full-time artist in Charleston. Katherine has made and designed clothing and interiors for friends and family for at least two-decades. Courtney mainly safety-pinned her own creations along the way as she worked in corporate roles. Designing a line that is fresh and functional satisfies a love of fashion that’s always been there for each of us.
How do you decide on new designs or collections?
We look for inspiration everywhere: An amazing wallpaper in a restaurant bathroom, a dress on the cover of an Australian magazine, gingko leaves we’ve plucked from trees in Charleston – truly anywhere. We pull shape, structure, color, and inspiration out of mundane things. And then we partner with amazing designers here in Charlotte and Wilmington to bring our vision to life.
How would you describe the Piccadilly style?
Piccadilly was born to fill a market space in apparel we couldn’t find ourselves. Something posh and playful. Classic and different. Southern and European. Our mission is to give our customers beautiful clothing coupled with the freedom to live in it.
Do you work with anyone locally here in Charlotte?
We’ve had the privilege to work with some insanely talented women. We owe so much of our growth and success to a handful of women who have partnered or worked with us over the last two years. These relationships are the most treasured part of this journey. We couldn’t share our story without mentioning the following local powerhouses: Meredith Owens with Design A La Mere (based in Wilmington), Riley Goodman with Good Mood Design Co., Erin Bowman with Erin Bowman Creative, Anna Stallmann with Anna Stallmann Communications, and Lindsey Reagan Thorne for branding and partnerships.
Is there anything new or upcoming at Piccadilly this year that we should know about?
Always! We have three new styles in the works for Spring/Summer ‘23, and this might be our favorite collection yet. Stay tuned for some sneak peeks and amazing collaborations in the weeks ahead.
dresspicadilly.com
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