It all started with a pair of pasties.
The Playful Pear is a one-woman creative studio creating handmade pasties, tassels and unapologetically fabulous accessories for people who believe life is far too short to be boring.
And, as it turns out, it all started with a nautical-themed stage act.
The story
Growing up, I've always had a passion for costumes and sewing - 'dress up' was my favourite thing to do. I asked for a sewing machine for my 10th birthday - and got one.
I've always been creative, but I was really able to let it shine when I decided to add some sparkle to my life and take a burlesque course (shout out to The Cheek of It! burlesque school).
My first act was playful, a little tongue-in-cheek and sometimes silly—but still classic, theatrical and fun. It eventually became one of my most popular acts: In the Navy, performed to the Village People's iconic song of the same name.
For it, I sourced different clothing items and accessories, and pieced them together to create a custom, naval-inspired uniform.
There was just one problem: I couldn't find the pasties I wanted.
So I decided to make them.
The very first set I created was a splash of water and a little 3D life ring. Perfect to match my In the Navy act. When I went back to my burlesque course to show my classmates, they started asking me if I could make them some.
From one pair to many more
What began as a hobby for my own performances soon became something a little bigger.
A group of us got together and realised we all needed pasties. Naturally, I decided I would make them.
So I opened a little shop.
Then somebody I didn't know found it.... Then somebody else. And before long, orders started rolling in.
The Playful Pear was born.
From stage to screen (and beyond)
What began with a handmade costume and a pair of pasties for my own stage act has taken me to some places I never expected.
Over the years, my work has been commissioned for Snowpiercer (Netflix), featured in a Moose Knuckles campaign and found its way into all sorts of wonderfully unexpected places.
Recently, I was commissioned by Vivienne Westwood to create the iconic Orb logo for Doechii to wear at Glastonbury Festival.
Made by one pair of hands
Everything you find here begins with me – Lila.
From the first idea to the final rhinestone, every piece is designed and made by hand, one tiny detail at a time.
Sometimes that means something glamorous.
Sometimes theatrical.
Sometimes somebody asks me to make a pair of pickle pasties.
And sometimes somebody asks for a merkin featuring Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek. (That was a treat in itself!)
Those are some of my favourite days.
Because while I love creating classic showgirl glamour, I also believe that the best ideas are sometimes the wildest ones.
Whoever you feel like being
Over the years, I've created pieces for performers, parties, costumes, weddings, photoshoots and people who simply wanted something a little more fabulous.
A goddess. A showgirl. A sailor.
A giant lobster.
Whoever, or whatever, you feel like being, I believe getting dressed should be fun.
So whether you know exactly what you're looking for or have a wonderfully strange idea that nobody else would quite understand, you're in the right place.
Let's make something fabulous.
