Member Article

Leeds Art & Design graduate entrepreneur launches own British bridal boutique

A Leeds College of Art and Design graduate is taking the plunge by setting up her own British-made bridal boutique after three years working in the wedding industry.

27-year-old Claire Toole trained for five years in fashion design, tailoring and historical costume at the University of Hull, Scarborough campus.

Claire worked for a couple of Yorkshire bridal shops and was able to work alongside major wedding designers, and champions British-made bridal wear that lives up to Far East competition in terms of prices.

Based in the city’s Grand Arcade, the only arcade in Leeds to solely house independent shops, Claire only stocks British designers and has already been approached by a number of independent designers.

The new entrepreneur’s aim is to become a franchise business with a number of shops around the UK, stocking British designer brands as well as dresses made from dressmakers just like Claire within the shop. She hopes her business model will help local and lesser known designers get noticed.

Claire explained: “After spending several years working with bridal shops, I came to realise that I wanted to return to my creative roots and design my own range of bridal wear.

“My experience has taught me that each bridal gown is like a beautiful costume for the day; an elaborate dress to wear that makes each bride feel beautiful.

“I want to be the person making those exquisite gowns that can give the wearer butterflies. My design work is quite dreamy, vintage inspired and filled with lots of intricate details and I cannot wait to launch my own collection to the UK.”

“Further to this, we will stock a range of vintage gowns, which can also be hard to come by in other bridal boutiques. Vintage is so on trend at the moment which I love because each dress has a history, someone else’s love story.

“Although not all brides-to-be want a true vintage gown; they still want a dress that is new and special but they love the style, which is why I have a vintage-inspired range.

“Country chic and barn weddings are also very ‘in’ at the moment and more informal, laid-back weddings are what couples are now seeking.”

In addition to opening the bridal store, Claire has launched a website as a platform from which to support new and upcoming designers.

The website will allow the designers to showcase and sell their creations and will also offer range of accessories from garters to beautiful hand-crafted jewellery.

Her dream to make her own wedding dresses and stock UK-made gowns, has now come to fruition with the grand opening of the Bridal Emporium scheduled for Thursday 23 October from 6pm-8pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .