ABOUT THE BRAND

tell us WHO’s BEHIND YOUR BRAND

I have been so grateful for the new team members I have pulled together since Covid forced me to move my business (and along with that, part ways with most of my prior employees). We have Rose, my Sales Manager who previously worked for Ramona Keveza and Vera Wang. Ellyn is my production manager and she comes to us from a Broadway costuming and hair styling background. Shannon has just joined us as Wholesale Manager and she comes from a long list of bridal experience. Weilu is my Alterations Manager, and Sylla is my Head Tailor. Sylla is originally from Senegal and has been working with me since 2014. We have a few other tailors and assistants- I’m so grateful for them all! We have a very happy work environment.

Spill the details about your design process?

I generally start with fabrics or embroidery concepts. I search through thousands of fabrics and have learned to listen to what “speaks” to me. I edit like crazy and see what really stands out most and also works together in some kind of story. From there, I create a few core stand-out pieces and then I begin to build more designs around those concepts. I am constantly making tiny sketches and notes about design ideas. I never stop thinking about and researching design details. The final work comes down to a lot of careful pattern making and fittings- even the best concept will not work if it does not fit properly! Technical design is also something I really care about.

What is your best seller to date? 

My Whitney Gown was first debuted in October 2015 and several brides each month still choose her! I think what works so well about Whitney is that the fabric is clean feeling but still interesting and a bit vintage-y, and the silhouette is classic, works on pretty much every body type, and feels traditional yet not too serious. Plus, she has pockets! Everyone always loves the pockets. She’s a very good representation of what my brand is all about!

What is the inspiration behind your newest collection?

This is my most romantic, emotional, and detail-oriented collection yet. I am so excited to share it! This year I really threw out a lot of my old expectations for myself and allowed myself to push the boundaries with construction and technique.

What kind of materials should we expect to see in this new collection?

Gorgeous Italian textiles, always! And lots of beautiful hand embroideries. Organza also kept showing up as one of my core fabrics.

What is your favorite memory/experience you’ve had involving your brand?

My husband and I eloped at the end of 2019, and I was asked by the New York Times to write a column about what it was like to design my own gown. Getting that email from the editor make me cry for real- I just couldn’t believe how far I had come. I always focus on design but I actually love writing too. But I didn’t know if I could quite pull of a piece for the Times! The article ended up being printed in the Sunday Styles section and got recommended as one of their “Weekend Reads.” That whole experience was very empowering!