Wedding Gown and Dress Designers

Amsale

Amsale Aberra first developed her sense of style by making her own clothes growing up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She came to the US for college in Vermont, but when the Ethiopian government fell and her diplomat father was imprisoned, she found herself in a foreign country with no money.

Anne Barge

Anne Barge has been creating designs for brides since she was three years old.  Although she started small by making dresses for her paper dolls, years later her creativity would blossom into a flair for designing elegant wedding gowns for socialites, celebrities, and women who appreciate a classic sense of style.

Anne Barge has been creating designs for brides since she was three years old. Although she started small by making dresses for her paper dolls, years later her creativity would blossom into a flair for designing elegant wedding gowns for socialites, celebrities, and women who appreciate a classic sense of style.

Contrary to popular belief, Badgley Mischka is not the name of one designer but the last names of two: Mark Badgley and James Mischka. The two met while attending the Parsons School of Design in the 80’s, and went on to found their company in 1998.  After a rough couple of years, their company took off in 1992. 

Elie Saab was born on the Fourth of July, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon.  Like other couture wedding gown designers, his talent for design and beauty showed up at a very young age.  When he was six and other children were playing outside, Elie was content to stay indoors and design clothes.

Elizabeth Fillmore started her bridal collection in 1998 after graduation from the Parsons School of Design in New York City. She sensed an opportunity in the bridal market for modern and sophisticated dresses, already having succeeded in developing an eveningwear line. 

The Kenneth Pool line is a branch of the Amsale Aberra design family.  Since last year, Project Runway alum Austin Scarlett has designed each and every one of the dresses sold under the Kenneth Pool name.

Lazaro’s mother taught him how to make clothing at an early age while living in Cuba.  Lazaro came to the United States and began an illustrious career designing couture wedding dresses.

After growing up in the Phillippines and attending high school in Switzerland, Monique Lhullier picked up a brochure for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and decided on the spot to attend.

After growing up in the Dominican Republic, Oscar de la Renta moved to Madrid to study painting at the Academy of San Fernando.  His interest in style and beauty, coupled with his artistic ability, allowed him to sketch for the top fashion houses in Spain. He soon obtained an apprenticeship with Spain's most famous couturier, Cristobal Balenciaga.

Tracy Uomoleale, the head designer for Priscilla of Boston, became interested in fashion as a young girl growing up in Houston. She would go on shopping trips with her mother, wander off to gaze at the wedding gowns in showroom windows, then go back home and draw her own version of the dresses she saw.

After coming to the United States from Lebanon at an early age, Reem Acra began studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.  In less than 8 years her New York atelier gained international fame.  She launched her bridal company in 1995.  

Ulla Maija founded her bridal house – the high couture house remaining to be based in the United States—after coming from the Alsace and Lorraine province in France in the 1870's. 

Vera Wang first entered the world of high couture as a child while shopping with her mother in New York and Paris. After a world-class secondary and university education, Vera Wang moved to Paris to study fashion at the Sorbonne.