1. Introduction: Brand Overview and Relevance

Trained at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, Ryan Mario Yasin combines the precision of aeronautical engineering with the creativity of design applied to innovation. In 2017, at just 23 years of age and still a student of Global Innovation Design, he founded Petite Pli with a vision as simple as it was revolutionary: to create smart, adaptable clothing designed for children.

The idea took shape from his personal experience with his nephew Viggo, to whom he had given some clothes and discovered that they could no longer be worn due to the child’s rapid growth. This episode gave rise to the need to design garments that could grow with the wearer. The technical inspiration came from Yasin’s work on deployable nanostructure satellites, where flexibility and spatial efficiency became design principles that could also be applied to textiles.

In addition to the innovative aspect of the product, Petite Pli also addresses one of the major critical issues in the fashion industry: the inefficiency of size and stock management. In e-commerce, around 40% of garments sold are returned due to sizing issues. By designing clothes that adapt to different body types and stages of growth, the brand helps to reduce waste, improve logistical efficiency and decrease the overall environmental impact.

1.1 Design Philosophy: Adaptability and Growth

Thanks to a pleated structure, the innovative material used by Petit Pli can expand up to seven times its initial size, adapting to changes in the body over the years.

The expansion system uses hidden pleats that open and close according to movement and growth, allowing garments to change shape without losing fit or comfort. This technology allows children to be accompanied from birth to nine years of age through three dedicated collections: TinyHuman (0-12 months), MiniHuman (9 months-4 years) and LittleHuman (4-9 years), reducing the need for frequent purchases and promoting a new idea of adaptive and sustainable clothing.

Image 1: Petit Pli adaptable top and fabric closeup retrieved from https://shop.petitpli.com/

1.2 Material Innovation and Textile Technology

Founder Ryan Mario Yasin drew inspiration from his research at Imperial College London on engineering origami and deployable structures used in small CubeSat satellites, systems that require the ability to compress carbon fibre panels into extremely small spaces before being released into space.

Transferring these principles to the field of fashion design, Yasin has created garments that dynamically adapt to a child’s growing body, combining technological innovation with everyday functionality. The garments are made from a patented ripstop fabric that is lightweight yet durable, offering elasticity, comfort and durability. The soft surface ensures a pleasant feel against the skin, while the technical structure allows freedom of movement for playing, running or climbing.

Each garment is made from recycled polyester, designed to be breathable and long-lasting.

Image 2: Close-up fabric swatches and descriptions retrieved from https://shop.petitpli.com/blogs/petit-pli-information/select-material

Image 3: Technical fabric features shown on Petite Pli product page retrieved from https://shop.petitpli.com/products/bottoms?variant=38085531959492

1.3 Durability

Petite Pli’s windproof and rainproof garments are designed to accompany children in their daily movements, adapting smoothly to their outdoor explorations. Made from durable, machine-washable and quick-drying ripstop technical fabric, these garments are designed to support the energy and freedom of play: perfect for running, climbing or crawling without restrictions.
The trousers feature reinforced knees for added durability, while the jackets and tops have expandable pockets for practicality and flexibility.
Functional details such as reflective tabs ensure visibility and safety even in low light conditions.

1.4 Production and circular approach

Thanks to their ability to adapt to up to seven different sizes, Petit Pli garments accompany children as they grow, substantially reducing waste, costs and the environmental impact associated with traditional clothing production.

The brand stands out for its careful selection of recycled fabrics and high-performance technical materials, chosen to withstand the daily demands of children.

The fundamental design principles are:

Design efficiency: expandable garments, the result of patented technology, optimise material consumption and reduce the need for frequent replacements, thus reducing the environmental impact both in the production phase and in the post-consumer cycle.
Circularity: it favours single-material and fully recyclable fabrics. Over 95% of the collections are designed to be reintroduced into the production cycle after use.
Durability: each garment is designed with extreme attention to strength and flexibility. Longevity is further enhanced by a free repair service.
Local roots: production is mainly carried out between London and Portugal, allowing high quality standards and operational agility to be maintained, while supporting local economies and reducing transport-related emissions.

1.5 Emotional Longevity and a Culture of Care: the Relationship Between User and Garment

Through its designs aimed at durability, Petit Pli creates an emotional connection between the garment and the wearer, thus becoming an instrument of emotional longevity, capable of generating attachment and responsibility towards what one wears.

Clothing is no longer an object to be consumed quickly, but a companion for growth, accompanying the child over time and preserving traces of their experience. This emotional relationship transforms the value of the garment, making it something to be cared for, repaired and preserved, rather than replaced. Petite Pli thus promotes a culture of care, educating families to a more conscious view of consumption, based on durability and respect for materials.