Nina Peter: Fingers on the Pulse

Michael Jackson’s death left pop bereft of many things. But at least one part of the legacy will live on to nurture and challenge musicans, and their costumers. Nina Peter-Väth, whose family boasts a 160-year old glove-making history (and the business Handschuhpeter), and Gregor Pirouzi, her veteran partner from Vivienne Westwood, Versace and Giorgio Armani, have taken on the task of supplying Harvey Nichols, Net-a-porter.com, Opening Ceremony, Colette and other choice spots with gloves worthy of grasping the King of Pop’s fashion crown. Since 2003, when she opened Nina Peter, the designer has used leather, python, fish, ostrich, eel, sequins and metal studs, holding firm to traditional craftsmanship while sidestepping tradition with fingerless, opera-length and strapped gloves for men and women. Though their elegance and unconventional allure summons up The Story of O, Joan Jett and André Breton’s Nadja just as much as Jacko, those in mourning for Jackson’s passing will find Nina Peters’ black racing gloves perfect for whipping away the tears.