BULLDOG Gin partnered with local fashion designer, Wanda Lephoto as he showcased his latest collection at Milan Fashion Week. On Monday 28 February, Lephoto debuted his Fall/Winter ’22 collection (titled GAZE) in the picturesque halls of Salone degli Affreschi of the Società Umanitaria. The show was followed by a cocktail party for guests and press in attendance, courtesy of BULLDOG Gin. BULLDOG provided support to Lephoto in every facet of the endeavour, from execution of the runway show to the production of the collection and sponsorship of the trip to Milan.

In Lephoto’s film, he describes how he began thrifting and selling second-hand suits to people starting their first jobs. This is where he found his affinity for fashion design. Wanda comments on his beginnings, explaining; “You just have to start, regardless of where it takes you. Not everything happened as I had dreamed, but it started to shape itself and I started to create my visual identity.” Now, Wanda Lephoto’s distinct aesthetic is well established within the fashion industry and has even led him to a global stage.

Wanda Lephoto and BULLDOG Gin’s partnership began with BULLDOG Gin’s Begin Bold digital storytelling series, which launched in 2021. The campaign includes compelling short films that follow the impactful bold beginnings of different protagonists, including Wanda Lephoto, as they embrace the chance to express themselves in a way that stays true to their authentic self. Each protagonist shares their experiences of following their inner drive to break away from the routines they were in and begin a new and passionate venture that would go on to define them.