Old Pangbournian Luca Kennedy (2014–2021) has made a striking mark on late-night television fashion, designing and producing a custom paper dress in just eight days for singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last month.

Reflecting on the whirlwind project, Kennedy shared, “At midnight on Christmas Eve, I was contacted by Sienna Spiro’s stylist with a simple question: would it be possible to design and produce a custom paper dress in time for her appearance on The Tonight Show on the 5th of January? Eight days later, the answer was yes.”

The project faced extreme time pressure during the Christmas shutdown, requiring rapid decision-making and numerous calls to print houses that, unsurprisingly, were closed. Kennedy credits the teamwork behind the effort: “Being at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, we have access to some of the best talent. Without the amazingly talented Ben Stone, who managed to sew the entire dress together in just one day, this project would not have been possible.”

Inspired by 1960s paper dresses and Sienna’s personal style, the final piece translated a historical reference into something contemporary and stage-ready. The graphic print references Johnny Carson, Kennedy explains, “a subtle nod to the era that shaped late-night television and the cultural legacy of The Tonight Show, the very stage on which Sienna would perform.”

Kennedy says projects like this exemplify the intersection of creativity and production reality, reflecting the wider mission behind his startup, Merchable: “Merchable bridges the gap between concept and final product by managing design, development and production end-to-end, allowing clients to focus on what they do best. A reminder that speed doesn’t have to compromise quality, if the process is built correctly.”

The dress is not only a testament to Kennedy’s talent and ingenuity but also an inspiring example for future designers, showing how bold ideas, executed with focus and pace, can reach the world stage in record time. From school alum to national television, Luca Kennedy’s journey demonstrates ambition, ingenuity and momentum and it’s only just beginning.