It's a busy time in the wedding industry calendar right now. I'm in London for The White Gallery, a huge and important annual trade fair exhibition in London, that provides an opportunity for designers to showcase and sell their new collections to retail buyers. Basically, it's all about the dresses and designs that you might see in the wedding magazines now, but that will make it to the bridal boutiques in the coming weeks and months.
I love the show, it's a great opportunity to meet with colleagues in the industry and see what's new and exciting out there and there were some really beautiful designs on show yesterday.
I've a whole separate blog post being prepared with images taken by Naomi Kenton who accompanied me to the White Gallery yesterday (see my post on last year's show here), but for today I wanted to share details of one of the designers I had the pleasure of seeing yesterdays event, and who's creations are no stranger to this wedding blog.
The name Astral Sundholm is probably unfamiliar to you, but its a name I think all discerning brides who adore beautifully crafted gowns that focus on silhouette and subtle era references ought know about. Astral Sundholm is the designer behind a brand that up to now has been known as 'Circa Vintage Brides', but who have this month rebranded to Astral Sundholm Circa Brides.
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2013, Natalie J Watts
That's the Rosie dress above and below – lovely isn't it?
The rebranding of the label has been timed to coincide with the launch
of the
new 2014 'New Romantics' collection (currently being launched at the White Gallery, and that I'm reassured will be available on the rebranded Astral Sundholm Circa Brides later this week).
Astral's collection of
wedding dresses
and separates have a twist of vintage and focus heavily on silhouette
and cut
in exquisite silk crepes, satins, lace and her signature quilted
waistbands all
produced in England.
I really adore her designs and am thrilled that
some of them made it in to my book, Style Me Vintage Weddings…
Astral Sundholm spent time working with Julien Macdonald as his pattern cutter and sourcing high end vintage wear for celebrities and designers before setting up her own design business. Her 'New Romantics' collection, launched at this weekend's White Gallery, has a
slight 70’s romance influence, particularly in the Gabrielle design seen below.
"My strengths lie in my focus on the silhouette and cut using my
favourite fabrics silk crepes and satins as they drape so well and attentions
to detail, for example the Lotty dress
with the Lace insertion under the bust all the way around to the back, i think
that one’s a winner.
Brides really influence my design process as i get to see
them try the wedding dresses and i always see new dresses i just wish my rails were big enough at my
Richmond Boutique and of course true to form they all have a vintage twist
which is part of my heritage…"
How Sex In The City chic is this design? This is the Amelia design, I'm quite partial to a sleeve on a wedding dress…
Astral Sundholm Circa Brides dresses are all produced in London England, using 100% silk
and range from between £2000.00 to £3000.00 in price (average price £2300.00).
For enquiries and further information, please visit the Astral Sundholm Circa Brides website. Alternatively, you can telephone +44 (0)20 7998 9005 or email [email protected].
You can also find Astral Sundholm Circa Brides on Facebook and Twitter.
Annabel