My respect for that craft of dressmaking is partly right down to my designer husband, that has taught me a lot through his skill in pattern cutting and design. Katy is just one of many creative individuals employed in the wedding industry, who, following the events from the past year, truly amazes me.

I think that anyone who works best for themselves, creatively, and that has survived the final 12 months, has got the most incredible amounts of resilience and determination, fuelled by a complete passion for their craft.

Katy, please introduce yourself to the reader community

Hello! My name is Katy Britton, I live in Nantwich where I run my bespoke bridal label.

How have you ended up working within the marriage industry?

I’ve always loved fashion and style of all kinds, but I’ve always loved to sew. When I left college I began as a bridal designer and picked up a lot of knowledge from her.

After my Fashion degree, I realized mainstream design wasn’t for me and so started my very own bridal label. I can’t imagine doing other things, it’s so personal.

The past year continues to be full of uncertainty for all of us and it’s been incredibly challenging for business people to reassure their customers. What everything have you completed to reassure your customers throughout this time around?

I ensured I held in touch together all during the lockdown and stressed to them that I could accommodate any changes they desired to make, may it be dates or design changes.

Our collection is composed predominantly of separates that may be mixed and matched to obtain the perfect combination. Every piece is fully customizable; laces, fabrics, detail, and shape can all be altered to produce the ultimate, flattering, and beautifully fitting dress for you personally.

KATY BRITTON

A handful of them desired to alter their dress designs to something more affordable as their wedding were a lot smaller.

A couple more had their fittings paused by lockdown, with the short amount of time to finish the dresses on the other hand, but we've got there!

Tell us the way you’ve personally coped through the more challenging times during the pandemic and lockdown.

I’m generally quite an optimistic person, but I think the uncertainty from the pandemic pushed the majority of us to our limits.

During the darker moments, I found something as easy as going for any walk and breathing some outdoors worked wonders. Or a large glass of vino!

I also experienced the routine of spending an hour or two a day in the studio following a hard day of home-schooling. Designing is like a tonic for my soul!

Nonessential retail continues to be open since the 12th of April – how has life and business been for you since then? How are the brides finding it all?

We’ve gone from excruciating boredom to absolute mania! But it’s how I enjoy it, so I’m not complaining. The brides I’ve seen to date are happy, excited, and almost resistant to the restrictions and uncertainty currently surrounding weddings.

They would like to get on with it, but still want to look fabulous on the day.

We last spoke with you in August 2020, and rather a great deal has happened since. At the time, you had been feeling deflated by the cancellation of London Bridal Fashion Week, which you had been due to deal with launch your debut wholesale collection. How are you currently feeling now and what plans perhaps you have to share your beautiful collection using the world?

All being well it'll go ahead in 2022, so I can meet buyers in person. I will be delivering the lookbook within the next few weeks being an introduction to who we're and what we should do, and crossing everything for any positive reception. It’s pretty nerve-racking!

Covid has already established a huge effect on the entire fashion landscape. Do you have any views regarding how it’s likely to change the bridal fashion landscape continuing to move forward? And are you currently already seeing any signs and symptoms of its effect on the bride’s fashion choices?

There is a massive shift towards sustainability, whether this continues to be helped along through the pandemic or otherwise, I don’t know. but it’s certainly positive.

I believe everything is a lot more relaxed, there's less of a feeling of grandeur around wedding plans, and much more of a feeling of intimacy. Smaller weddings, using the most important people in your lifetime.

As we emerge right into a new post-pandemic fashion era, individuals are making more ethical and sustainable fashion choices than in the past. Can you tell us the way you incorporate these important values into your brand?

Absolutely! All of the silks I use within this collection are GOTS certified, and they're so beautiful. Everything is produced in-house inside my studio, and also the collection can also be designed in a way that the pieces can transport from season to season.

Most seem to be separate, so could be paired with something newer, as well as re-vamped. The idea is the fact that my potential stockists could get the most out of their cash, and also the brides can test out combinations and build the best dress.

Your new collection is really beautiful and also the campaign images are extremely beautifully sensuous and feminine. Please inform us about it. What inspired you and also how can brides see/try it on?

Thank you! I’m so pleased using the images, we'd be a great team. I always discover the subject of inspiration a hard one, as there's never anything specific I can pinpoint.

It can frequently just be as easy as a beautiful fabric or lace and designing something for the greatest out of it. Brides can currently try the entire collection inside my Nantwich studio.

Is the gathering available now?

Yes, I’m just finalizing the lookbook and pricing.

Do you possess a favorite design or designs in the gathering, and why?

I love the brand new. She was created out of lockdown, so I probably owe a number of my sanity to her! But, she’s perfect up until my street, and in all likelihood something I would wear.

A tiny bit vintage wedding dresses, a tiny bit boho, but very chic.

Are you in a position to provide any reassurance towards the more curvy bride and also require concerns about sample sizes being too small, but who still really wants to look knock in one of your designs?

Of course. Trying on in bridal boutiques could be tricky for those sizes of the bride, things can feel awkward when they don’t fit. Most of my samples are 12’s (real 12’s, not bridal 12’s!), but we can work magic within the fitting room with a few pinning and experimenting.

For brides who're unsure of their final design, I provide a full toile fitting; a mock-up of the style before you take the plunge into the actual dress itself.

These fittings are priceless for finalizing silhouettes.

Over yesteryear years, the marriage industry has rebranded on a lot of levels because of some seriously passionate campaigning and lobbying. What are the thoughts around the industry as a whole, and an amount you say to any aspiring designer looking to enter and make up a bridal fashion brand?

The wedding industry feels as though a community, and also, quite a lovely someone to be a part of. There is an enormous sense of suppliers supporting one another. To any aspiring designers, I would say follow the ideal. Keep on top of what’s happening but don’t compare yourself an excessive amount to other designers. Find your style.

Why is the next step what you do and exactly what do you love about this the most? I’m keen to dig just a little deeper here and explore why you like the craft of dressmaking particularly. What is it concerning the process that you discover most rewarding?

I gain enormous happiness from creating something beautiful and making someone feel beautiful is something I have created. It’s as easy as that.

Katy, I’d like to learn just a little more in regards to you – exactly what do you like to do inside your spare time?

There’s hardly any of that on each day to day basis, but we spend most weekends and school holidays on the beach. It is, certainly, my happy place.

What is the final book you read? And any book strategies for our readers?

I read Harry Potter and also the Philosopher's Stone to my son! I would recommend it!

What music are you currently enjoying at this time?

My music taste has evolved hardly any over the final 20 years! Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Oasis, The Stone Roses.

What or who inspires you inside your day-to-day life?

Difficult to reply to without sounding slightly cheesy, but my children. I want these phones to see that their Mum has followed her heart, and hopefully, it'll inspire these phones to do the same.

The latest film you watched?

Seaspiracy. A complete eye-opener.

In one single sentence, how does one sum up your outlook and approach once we navigate through 2021 and aim to exit this lockdown?

Hopeful, excited looking forward to dressing some actual life brides!

What main message do you want us to pass through on to all of the brides within our community?

Just get it done your way! There has never been a much better time for weddings to become more unapologetically personal and original, and they're the best ones.

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