The wedding dress search is likely to be the most important and exciting experience of a bride-to-be’s wedding planning schedule. However, with so many styles, designs and accessories to weigh up, finding the perfect dress will usually take weeks or even months to complete.
We understand how important this decision-making process is, which is why we caught up with renowned wedding dress designer and bridal fashion expert Sanyukta Shrestha to find out what inspires her award-winning designs and what you should bear in mind when embarking on your dress search.
Here’s what she had to say…
How did you get into wedding dress design? How did your business come about?
I find bridal is the most intriguing and compelling within the fashion industry and I think specialising in it was a natural progression in terms of my passions and aspirations.
When I was 17 I was chosen to create the dress that Miss Nepal wore in the 1998 Miss World pageant. This was a milestone in my journey as a fashion designer and an exciting start to my career. After graduating from the London College of Fashion, I worked in the bridal and retail industry in the UK for five years and was able to gain enough experience to set up my own bridal label in 2011.
Where do you go for inspiration for your work these days? What is the inspiration behind your latest collection?
Each bride’s unique love of fashion and individual style gives me great inspiration and my collections often capture the stories that brides have shared with me over the years.
My daughter Ameya, who will turn two soon, is the inspiration behind my latest collection. She has truly turned my life upside down, in an absolutely positive way and recently sparked the creative ideas for my flower girl collection (which is named after her). I launched the collection on her first birthday, and it is a loving gift from a mother to her daughter, or of course, from the bride to the flower girl.
Who would be your dream client?
Lady Diana, if she were alive, for timeless iconic presence and her ethics. She was not only a style icon but also the epitome of royal patronage and selflessness. She will always be my idol.
If you’re looking for more tips and advice for your big day, take a look at our blog and news section for more insight from knowledgeable experts.
What is trending right now in wedding dress design? Are there any designs or garments in particular which are receiving a lot of demand?
I think brides are becoming more and more adventurous when looking for their perfect wedding dress. So many brides are stepping away from traditional, status quo gowns and reaching for more unique designs with their own little twists. Expect a lot of contemporary separates, romantic ruffles, exquisite 3D embellishment and layer upon layer of dreamy tulle!
What has been your biggest challenge as a wedding dress designer?
I have been aware of the fact that the use of harmful chemicals (whether it’s growing cotton or making polyester fibers) are adversely affecting thousands of people’s lives, millions of birds and animals. As a person and as a designer I therefore feel responsible for what I do and the decisions I make in my life and my career.
The initiative I have set up to ensure my approach to design is sustainable and eco-friendly might be small, but it can have a great effect on someone’s life. Through blending sustainability with my ethical beliefs, I also try to create opportunities for village women in Nepal, by merging and turning their traditional skills into delicate fabrics and designs. For these reasons eco-friendly and fair-traded fabrics are the soul of my designs.
My biggest challenge has therefore been bringing awareness to ethical clothing in the bridal fashion industry. Although the industry is starting to adapt, most people aren’t really aware of the effects of the fabrics they wear and where they come from. Eco-fabrics are not only protecting our environment but are softer and kinder to the skin and also possess nourishing qualities. Some of these fibres, such as hemp, are resistant to UV light, mould, salt water and abrasion. Fabric like bamboo also has anti-bacterial properties which make it extremely suitable for healthy clothing, especially for sensitive skin. I wanted my dresses not only to look luxurious, but also feel luxurious and comfortable on the most important day of the bride’s life.
What advice or styling tips can you give to those who are currently considering their look for the big day?
Keep an open mind when it comes to choosing your wedding dress and remember everyone has unique shapes, sizes and curves. If you see your ‘dream dress’ on another bride or model, just remember that it might not necessarily be the right dress. A wedding dress should be ‘beauty with comfort’, which is why brides should follow their heart and not trends. The perfect wedding dress is the one that reflects your personality, complements your figure and, most importantly, it’s the one you should feel most comfortable in. So stay true to yourself and stick to the shapes you know work. You should feel beautiful and happy while you are wearing it.
Check out our brand new wedding venue quiz to find out what your perfect wedding venue would be.