The Wedding Dress Designer To Know
The story of KATYA KATYA began in Riga, Latvia, where Katya met best friend and business partner Marina. They launched KATYA KATYA in 2007, focusing on their unique design style, which reflects a modern but vintage-inspired aesthetic. Their flagship boutique opened in London in 2011 and KATYA KATYA is now present in stockists around the world.
Initially the team focused on ready-to-wear garments but, after seeing a huge demand from clients, they started making wedding dresses each season. They felt there was a gap in the market for unique and individual wedding dresses, and the range became popular among brides who were looking for something different, but still wanted to feel like a bride. The brand now focuses solely on bridal gowns.
The brand has several collections. The lace line comes with interchangeable colourful slips to be worn underneath – allowing brides to choose their colour or have the choice to change their look from day to evening. Three skirts and tops can be mixed and matched, offering versatility. The silk collection is made up of five dresses and tops that work together in an array of combinations. “This flexibility and versatility within our collections is important for us as we feel it lets our brides be more creative with their outfit and show off their personality,” explains Katya.
When Katya starts to design a new collection she chooses a theme. She then chooses the fabrics that influence each gown. The flow or the pattern of the fabric dictates a lot about how each dress is finished. She loves working with light materials such as lace, tulle, chiffon and silk as these have easy movement and complement the female body without any restrictions.
“With each collection we use French laces, tulles and 100% silks that are high quality, lightweight, breathable and unique. I create gowns that flatter each bride and also have fashion-forward elements. Each collection is feminine and delicate, as we are using ruffles, hand-stitched appliqués and delicate high necks with stunning lace edges. Your wedding dress should show your personality; it should not feel like a costume you put on for one day. You will enjoy your wedding day more when you feel comfortable and true to yourself in your dress – that, in my opinion, is the most important thing.”
The brand loves bridal separates. Its silk collection offers a clean look, whereas soft A-line lace dresses with romantic cap sleeves are perfect for a bride looking for something more delicate.
“The dresses with ruffled skirts and lace tops just radiate fun and work so well for a stylish bride. We have modest options for brides looking for a more covered-up look for a church wedding, and more open and lightweight dresses for a sunny destination wedding,” says Katya.
“Each bride is different, so each dress is tailored to them specifically. A wedding dress is such a personal choice, so even if there are some trends within the wedding industry, we feel most brides look for timeless pieces that represent their personality and style, and this is what we encourage.”
Sustainability is important for KATYA KATYA. They take pride in their sustainable production – all dresses are made to order, meaning they don’t waste any fabric and only order a certain amount to make sure nothing is wasted. They also offer a restyling service, so brides can shorten their dresses and change their under-slips after the wedding. This way, brides can make the most of their dress and wear it more than once.
Each dress takes seven months including alterations. The team recommends ordering a year before the wedding for peace of mind but, for those who need a gown urgently, they offer an express production service of six to eight weeks.
“Dresses can be altered and modified to each bride quite easily. Small design changes can make their dress just that little more personal. When creating the new collections, I like to listen to our brides and get feedback on what styles are popular and how they feel the dresses work for real women. It is so important to me when designing that I can create something beautiful and special, but also dresses that are wearable and flattering,” explains Katya.
During these difficult times and until boutiques are allowed to reopen, brides can start researching their dress online.
“Instagram and Pinterest are great places to start. For brides who are still deciding on the style, we recommend bridal boutiques who stock different styles and have a variety of brands. This way they can see what style or fabric works for them. The most important thing is to keep an open mind, as you never know which dress you might fall in love with,” advises Katya.
Brides can buy the dresses and browse through KATYA KATYA’s current collections at the flagship boutique in Chelsea. They also have stockists all over the world.
“We work with amazing boutiques who all have a great selection of our dresses. At our London boutique we offer personal appointments to our brides, creating a special relationship with every single bride and working closely with the studio to make sure the dress is perfect for their wedding day”.
Dress prices range from £1,490 to £3,600
Visit KATYAKATYA.co.uk
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