Pippa’s dress maker’s firm winds down – owing £300k

Designer giles Deacon is basking in the glory of having made Pippa Middleton’s gown at the ‘wedding of the year’. But i can disclose that his suppliers are distinctly less impressed after one of Deacon’s businesses went into liquidation, owing almost £300,000. Just two months before Pippa’s dress was unveiled, Deacon was still signing documents that leave 74 different businesses fearing they will now not be paid.

Among them is Aleksandra Petrovic, whose company, Blueheart Promotions, is owed £3,420. This is understood to be for transporting Deacon’s haute couture collection to Paris last year.

‘it’s heartbreaking,’ she tells me. ‘We’ve worked with giles for around 15 years, and then we’re told this.

‘We’re a small business and that’s a lot of money for myself and my husband — it means things like not being able to afford a holiday. We’re not well-off.’

Describing her and her company as ‘the real fashion victims’, Mrs Petrovic adds: ‘giles is becoming a star and, with all the exposure from the wedding, he should be getting lots of offers — the world will be on a plate for him. it’s really disappointing a small business like ours might be the one that suffers.’

Agricultural salesman’s son Deacon, 47, became creative director of French fashion house Ungaro in 2010, designing dresses for famous names including Abbey Clancy, wife of footballer Peter Crouch.

He set up the company giles studio Ltd in 2003, later changing its name to Bobbi international Ltd — described as ‘agents involved in the sale of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear and leather goods’ — of which he is the sole director.

in March, Deacon, whose girlfriend, gwendoline Christie starred in game Of Thrones and the latest star Wars film, signed winding-up papers for the business, with liquidators appointed, according to public Companies House records.

Other creditors include elite Model Management, which represents stars such as Kendall Jenner and is owed £1,600, and hat-making firm stephen Jones Millinery, which is owed £7,500. Her Majesty’s revenue & Customs is owed £6,700 and Lloyds Bank nearly £20,000, with the creditors owed a total of £295,598.

Deacon remains a director of at least three other companies, including giles Deacon group, Benni international Ltd and Booboo international Ltd. The designer could not be reached for comment.