Most Curious London Exhibitors 2013 so far!

So now just 3 weeks to go we can fill you in on the latest exhibitor list for A Most Curious Wedding Fair SS2013 LONDON. The Truman Brewery will be a feast for every sense with this uber cool array of creative and design-led pack of suppliers we have found especially for the style savvy bride and grooms.


Minna
Just beautiful, beautiful wedding dresses! created by Finnish designer Minna Hepburn Inspired by her love for vintage clothing, her label is now stocked around the world and has been featured in magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Red, Women’s Wear Daily and Easy Living. British Fashion Council awarded mentoring for her Autumn/Winter 2010 collection and most recently she won the Elle Style Awards 2011 in Finland.




Francesca Mey
Destination Wedding Photographer based in London and Luxembourg, who loves fashion, food, music and is an ink art devotee (in her own words!) !




KYE TEW JEWELLERY
From her pieces being worn by Bo in The Voice final to the pages of Vogue, Kye Tew’s jewellery is cool answer to bridal jewellery Made from her workshop in Exeter, she converts vintage, antique and pre-loved items into unique, versatile designs bespoke for each customer.




BEAUTY CALL
The Shoreditch salon will be providing hair and make up trials and make overs for visitors on the day. Bored of a strict vintage look we have come up with the following brief!

Great Gatsby – 20’s/30’s trend brought up to modern standards

Bohemian vibe – uber relaxed 70’s kate moss style

London lasses – more classic but with fashion edge ie: high top knots and fashion led make up with a bright strong lip and clean face




SAMMY AKI
Fresh from producing the Collections: menswear show at London Fashion Week, Groom style consultant will be on hand to intricacies of Ready To Wear, Made to Measure and Bespoke tailoring in preparation for their wedding day




NINETTE VAN KAMP
A formal wallpaper designer and textile artist van Kamp now creates bespoke bridal knickers and garters..she also put togethe 'make your own' garter workshops for hen parties. She is Central St Martins Graduate with an MA in Textile Futures.





VERONICA DEARLY
Our bridalNEXT! 2012 winner, Graphic Designer Veronica is really bringing something new and bold to the wedding stationery scene - vintage-be-gone!




BELLE IN WONDERLAND
Vintage bridal and evening gowns from 1930s-1980s Currently with their main customer base in Japan, they are expanding to the UK market.




PETER BORTHWICK
Ronnie Scott’s and Pigalle Club regular Jazz singer Peter Borthwick will be performing as well as exhibiting on the day




ASHTON JEAN PIERRE
A film photographer specialising in weddings. His first experience with a camera was when he had to attain a photography badge for Scouts at the age of 13, after which he received his first SLR from his Mum for Christmas. Several cameras later, his hobby had developed into an obsession and people were requesting his service. He shoots wedding and portraits...





WEDDING RINGS AT CROSS ST
A professional and friendly jewellery teaching studio in the heart of Brighton & Hove where couples come and make their own wedding rings. Spending a wonderful day crafting metal into beautiful wedding bands that will be exchanged on the big day and then worn forever!






















Diana Patient
Photographer specialising in editorial, cinematic style wedding imagery. She once had a couple jump out of a rowing boat in a river to capture the perfect shot and moment. She offer lomography photography as well as digital to give that injection of spontanaeity to a couple’s wedding album alongside the digital photographs.






FONDANT FOX
Supplier of cakes to Lucy in Disguise among others, Fondant Fox will design, bake and decorate wedding cakes of any shape and size. they use natural ingredients as a means of decorating and flavouring my cakes such as sugared rose petals, persian figs, candied oranges and exotic fruits.






LOVE BLOOMS
Fashion buyer turned creative and cool wedding supplier! Her work is relaxed and imaginative but completely considered.




The House of Vintage Weddings & Accessories

raffertysuzanne@msn.com

Vintage and upcycled occasion wear, one of the best kept secrets in the wedding industry who have been supplying the Vintage to the wedding world for 27 years but the public do not know they even exist..until now!






HELLO LUCKY
Uber cool, design-led stationers with nostalgic feel which started life in San Francisco but have now set up camp in East London too.






COMEUPPANCE
A collection of made to order pieces, one-off bridal head pieces, and laser cut wedding decorations and accessories. All items are made by hand, using quality vintage and modern materials, mixed together to create stunning combinations that have a subtle shine and an aged sparkle





THE BIJOU BRIDE
Ultra cool fashion and event stylist, also a Wedding Planner & Stylist with a range of unique packages such as Bride’s Best Friend and Shopping Queen




EMMELIE ERIKSON
Growing up on a farm in rural Sweden, Emmelie is a Documentary style videographer with a fresh take on film making for your wedding day.






The POCKET LIBRARY

A curated design archive of vintage couture which has been the inspiration behind many contemporary bridal collections. With a generous and varied selection of white dresses dating from the early 1900s. The extremely different fits of so many eras of fashion and the transformation of a dress that looks so plain on a hanger into something magical once it has found it's perfect match.

ROSIE WEISENCRANTZ
Rosie Weisencrantz is the dream child of award winning textile designer Caroline Rose Dent. With a passion for vintage jewellery, a love of weaving and a commitment to recycling, her woven vintage necklaces and headbands with their subtle patina of age are reminiscent of something from a bygone era.





GARLAND & GARTER
Specialise in designing and making luxury, vintage lace wedding garters. These are adorned with bundles of soft satin and lace ribbons.





ELLIE GILLARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Former fashion buyer turned Alternative, romantic and film inspired wedding photographer for the creatively minded




ANNE BARCLAY + SARAH DAY
A new design duo who do both have tailoring backgrounds but are making joint new ventures into bridal which started in 2012. Barclay is a maker with training in woven textile design (achieving a first class honours degree from Central St. Martins, London) and is influenced by Dickens, Westwood and McQueen! Day has recently completed a Fashion and Textiles degree and loves historical tailoring but also channels traditional japanese and native American aesthetics.







VIOLETS & VELVET
Naturalistic floristry for free thinking brides,w ho love texture and colour. They have worked at some remarkable venues, including MC Motors in Dalston.






LISA CRITCHER MILLINERY
A Vogue regular, Critcher specialises in creating chic and exclusive hats, headdresses and veils, each LCM item is beautifully designed and individually made by hand. She has a bespoke line, working directly with brides to create unique pieces to complete and compliment their look, and a small ready to wear collection.




LAURA MCCLUSKEY
A true East London hipster in it's loveliest form! a graduate (with a first in fashion photography and styling) of UCA Epsom Laura has had her work featured in national fashion mags and also provides personal documentary style wedding photography





JESSICA CHARLESTON
Jessica designs and makes bespoke wedding dresses as well as having a small stockists collection, with the aim of creating something different than what is on the market. She always enjoys discovering and experimenting with new fabrics and well as making latex clothes in her spare time!






RENE WALRUS
Hand-made bridal accessories with a fashion forward edge. From romantic cascading tiaras to dramatic show-stopping designs each of our pieces is meticulously constructed at our studios in Edinburgh using diverse materials from fine silks and Swarovski crystal to glitter and perspex






HATTIE & FLORA A very cool female design duo who’s cleint lists includes Channel 4, The Globe and now us! The wedding and event stylists will be decorating the space for the fair with a festival street fair edge





JULIA BOGGIO
The cooler than cool London based wedding and studio photographer who specialises in a creative and vintage inspired boudoir experience, forget Goodnight sweetheart wannabes these guys put the edge back into vintage...

LITTLE BREW
Little Brew is a small but perfectly formed microbrewery producing exquisite artisan ales.
Based in the heart of Camden Town, they can offer customised beer bottles for the big day!





Hand Made Food

Rustic home-style caterer offering creative food ideas for events as seen in The Observer Food Awards, Time Out, The Guardian and Stylist





MY LOVE STORY
My Love Story Photography is based right here on Brick Lane, Alex D of My Love Story has a design background, which sets him is great stead to provide an elegant and stylish memoir of your big day.






Innstyches
Hand made and hand stitched fabric bouquets to keep forever, as featured in British Vogue and Mollie Makes





MADELINE BRIDE
Beautifully hand crafted veils and headpieces from a designer obsessed with and inspired by Catholic kitsch and the Day of the Dead




EMMA MILLS FLOWERS
A truly bespoke floral service for clients regardless of budget. A creative and enthusiastic florist




FEDERICA BRUNO
Italian born designer, Federica is a true artisan using traditional embroidery techniques with a fresh, fashion led outlook. Dedicated to creating each piece entirely from scratch to an entirely bespoke brief.





Chasing Lula
Interior designer, silversmith, botanical illustrator.. Maker Yulia is now turning her hand to beautiful bridal accessories, including bridal turbans!




Patrick Liang
A multi disciplined designer who can wedding rings which feature you and your partners finger print. amazing!





John Lewis
The British institution, John Lewis Oxford Street will be joining us at the fair. Come and meet them and find out how to get one of the most stylish gift lists that includes design-led brands including Georg Jenson, Villeroy & Boch, Sebastian Conran, Bose, Dualit, Le Creuset, Vera Wang and Bugaboo.

bridalNEXT! LONDON 2013 FINALISTS announced!

We are full steam ahead for the Norwich Most Curious Wedding Fair at St Andrews Hall in 9 days time (aghhh!) but we must, must, must reveal the final 13 for bridalNEXT! London - to be showcased at the Truman Brewery on 19, 20, 21 April 2013.

bridalNEXT! London will be judged by Victoria Joy of You and Your Wedding, the wedding mag with the highest circulation in the UK, Alexandra Merri of the fashion-led Bijou Bride blog and the mighty Ruby + Diva online eclectic bridal boutique.

The categories are The Dress, The Accessories, The Cake and The Stationery. The chosen 13 will exhibit at the fair as well as being shown in some sumptuous fashion shows on the Saturday and Sunday. We are still working out how to show stationery and cake but we like a challenge! The judges will chose a One to Watch from each category who will win the opportunity to be stocked in the Ruby + Diva boutique.

We absolutely love all of them, gosh we do not envy the judges... but enough about what we think take a look for yourselves.


The Dress

1. Corrie Nielsen

Corrie Nielsen is the London-based fashion designer, who launched her own fashion label in 2011 and debuted at London Fashion Week AW11. Having playfully experimented with dressmaking as a youngster, Corrie began her education at London College of Fashion studying towards an Art and Design foundation diploma, which inspired her to build upon her talents at Central Saint Martins. At the heart of the Corrie Nielsen philosophy, is the distinct use of structure, perhaps partly influenced by her American sculptor father’s work. Her appreciation of form is evident in her creations, which display three- dimensional shape through the use of box pleating and sculpted volume and has already got a celebrity following having been seen on Florence Welch and Kelly Rowland! Fashion foward brides are you ready to have your boundaries pushed!








2. Federica Braghieri

Federica Braghieri is an Italian fashion designer who has recently completed a MA in Digital Fashion at London College of Fashion. The debut collection “the geometry of the body” was inspired by the idea of the geometrical shapes that compose objects, it is connected with the way 3D software visualize and create surfaces, and has the human body as the focus point.

This collection is a balanced mixture between minimal look and meticulous details, avant-garde techniques of production and great quality materials, intricate structures and organic textures. She can create a gown that literally has the perfect shape for your body as it can be developed on the body's surface, using it as it's guide. Fashion and futuristic ideas merging, we like!







3. Lizzie O

Lizzie O makes one-off pieces of vintage kimono fabric sourced from fabrics made between 1930 and 1970. The inspiration for her label is her lifelong fascination for Japan and, in particular, an enduring love of Japanese kimonos and the world of the Geisha. After finding some vintage kimono fabrics, she found her calling, was inspired and wanted to make something from them for women of today to get the opportunity to enjoy them and get a sense of the history of the women who wore them. She named her label, Lizzie O, in memory of her much-missed grandmother, Lizzie Onions. Her surname was Onions but she insisted on pronouncing it ‘O’Nions’. Cute! Subtle and beautiful, she has also designed a small collection with a 1930s look with a modern twist to complement her one-off pieces.










The Accessories

1. Rouge Pony

Rouge Pony is a small custom base accessory company in England, shaped on the idea of its clients being able to find solace in a unique and individual form of expression. By crafting each piece from rare discoveries, antique findings and unique trinkets. With inspirations and materials found from our great mother earth, no two pieces are alike. They say 'The natural exquisiteness of this world grants us with the ability to create from the most raw and natural platforms available.' Started in 2011, Rouge Pony is a reminder of the simplistic things in life with the tag line, 'I design for dreamers'.








2. Heather Orr

Heather Orr is a Freelance Knitwear & Textile Designer and RCA graduate, living and working in London. After graduating from the Royal College of Art Heather has worked for several designers such as Donna Wilson, and Tracy Kendall. Alongside this, Heather has collaborated with recent RCA graduate, Jane Bowler, to produce knitwear for her SS12 collection at London Fashion Week. She has also been commissioned by Lion Brand Yarn in New York to produce a crocheted garment for an upcoming show in January 2012. Heather has recently produced a collection of accessible and extremely wearable knitted and crocheted collars. These interchangeable and detachable collars allow the customer to add a customised edge to any outfit, including bridal! Made from the finest quality British Merino Wool, Angora and Cotton, these pieces are handmade in London by Heather.






3. La Dame au Beret

After training as a milliner for 3 years, Myriam Lengline graduated from Kensington & Chelsea College in June 2012 and launched La dame au beret. It is millinery that focuses on bespoke handmade hats, headpieces, headbands and haircombs, made following traditional couture techniques and using antique/vintage fabrics, ornaments and intricate trimmings. Highly influenced by the bygone eras of style and elegance (1880s-1950s, with an emphasis on ’Art Nouveau’ and ’La Belle Epoque’) she also has a keen interest in folk/ethnic costumes and alternative subcultures from the 70s and 80s. These styles infuse her work with original features, creating a mix of the classic theme “something old, something new”, “Fairytale Drama” and ’Dark Fantasy’.







4. Ellsewhere

Inspired by the simple beauty of nature, Ellsewhere’s headwear and accessories are designed to imbue every bride with a feeling of serenity and elegance and enchantment. And a little bit of ethereal mystery. Ellsewhere’s most exciting accolade has been creating ’vintage’ inspired headwear for the actress Kate Winslet to complement outfits designed by McQueen and Stella McCartney. The pieces are intricately designed and woven with pearlescent beading, antique jewellery, delicate flowers and silicone sculpture.









The Stationery


1. Lucy Says I Do

Through a mixture of carefully chosen typography, pretty illustrations, hand lettering and pattern, Lucy Clark designs and makes beautiful: cards, eclectic personalised stationery, paper goods and prints that are perfect for an original wedding, thoughtful gift or special celebration. She also offers event design and ‘on the day’ styling services to inspire and enthuse, believing your day should be beautiful, relaxed and a representation of you.

She works with a serious passion for design and paper in a loft with her sister and her cat.







2. Love Illustrated

London-based, Love Illustrated is run by Dave and Sian, who got married in 2010. They got fed-up trying to find a unique and affordable wedding invites, so created our own. Their wedding was featured on numerous blogs and magazines and people began asking whether Dave could draw their invites too, so we they okay, and set up shop in 2011.







3. Curious Me Design

Pinar Djemil is a designer and maker in South London, creating hand drawn wedding stationery inspired by woodlands, mountains, oceans and the air of love! Each piece is bespoke based on the ideas of the specific wedding. She previously had a full time career as a freelance 3D Product designer and model maker but after getting married in the summer of 2012 and she got hooked onto weddings and started her own hand drawn illustration and wedding stationery company a few months ago.








The Cake

1. Dolce Dolce

Dolce Dolce are a bespoke Cake & Confections Boutique who are just 8 months old. They like to think out side the box and draw great inspiration from the baroque era as well as other objects that have been portrayed as beautiful over time such as oil painting, silks, jewelled eggs, exotic birds, golden apples, gilded leaves and butterflies.
They have already been featured in Harpers Bazaar and Vogue and top we can definitely see why.

2. Kaleidescope Bakery

Kaleidoscope Bakery offers custom designed iced cookies, cupcakes, macaroons, and of course wedding cakes with an edge. From Mexican Day of the Dead biscuits to a box of cigarette cookies made for Shane McGowan, these guys definitely put the cool into cake design.





3. Emily Harmston Cakes

P-J's approach is to provide every couple with quality design and a high level of craftsmanship, believing every wedding is as individual as each couple, and during consultation she sketches ideas that may use skills in delicate piped lace, handcrafted sugar flowers, hand-painting and applique patterns. She find herself drawn to vintage costume or contemporary fabrics for inspiration, but whether she is using a spectrum of delicate tones , or a more dramatic look, she always strives to make a elegant cake.  Her business is not named after her, but her grandmother, now 92, who she still blames entirely for her sweet tooth!

Norwich bridalNEXT! 2013 finalists announced

Poster art work by Veronica Dearly, dress by Federica Bruno and bow by Lisa Critcher Millinery



So this is our first blog post in 2013, shame on us! But it's a good 'un. bridalNEXT! is back and we are very excited that the Norwich contestants will also be showcased as part of Norwich Fashion Week at the Designers Show at Epic Studios on the 12 March as well as at A Most Curious Wedding Fair (of course!) on 23 March. So we have the lovely fashion editor Emma Harrowing at the Eastern Daily Press returning as a judge this year as well as the ravishing Julia Rigg of Goldfinches Vintage and a brand new addition in Katy Coe of Vogue Famous Vintage Deli - but more about each of them soon!

Vintage Deli will also be providing the winning designers the wonderful price of being stocked in their beautiful new boutique on the North Norfolk Coast and on the online store.

So this year we have some absolute beauties who made the grade to be finalists. We split the categories for 2013 into The Dress and The Accessories to make it a little fairer to judge and we are over the moon with the final 5. Are you ready to meet them?




The DRESS

1. Anne Barclay Tailored & Sarah Day Design

A new design duo who do both have tailoring backgrounds but are making joint new ventures into bridal which started in 2012. Barclay is a maker with training in woven textile design (achieving a first class honours degree from Central St. Martins, London) and is influenced by Dickens, Westwood and McQueen! (bottom image) Day has recently completed a Fashion and Textiles degree at Colchester institute and like Barclay loves historical tailoring but also channels traditional japanese and native American aesthetics. (top image) Together they are really pushing ideas of theatrical, elegant and fanciful bridal and occassion wear.






Sarah Day Designs





Anne Barclay Tailored


2. Best Of Youth

Hand-made bridesmaid dresses and accessories, hand-made by Katie Bishop in her farm studio in North Essex. Bishop uses traditional and vintage fabrics; embroidered linen, silk and lace. They are hand-dyed using plants. Each piece is unique; real one-off garments to be kept and cherished. We love the simplicity and feel the look is so en trend for vintage loving brides who want their bridesmaids to have a relaxed, english country look with a little bit of a fashion edge.





3. Boom Boom Baby!

Boom Boom Baby! was formed by Kirsteen Ross, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh armed with a degree in Fashion and Costume Design, a creative mind filled with ideas and a talent to match

her passion for the industry. She now lives in Norwich and is branching into the world of bridal gown design (with a boom boom baby touch of course) and treats for the wedding night...







THE ACCESSORIES


1. Annelli Clarke

Started in late late 2013, Norwich-based Annelli Clarke is fast making waves in her home country and beyond! After finishing runner-up last year in Grazia magazine’s ’Hat Factor’ competition judged by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy, she has been doing an internship with Piers Atkinson in London, where she represented the brand at 'Headonsim’ for London Fashion Week. She adores the forms and styles from the 1920s to 1970s, her work is increasingly leans towards more avant guard materials such as perspex, wire and leather. She is also expanding my use of natural feathers. Very en trend for 2013!

2. Bohemian Love Story

Founded in 2012 by Hannah Melnyk, Bohemian Love Story is for the free spirited bride who wants to be inspired by nature but in a big impact, theatrical way, which we LOVE! Melnyk mixes natural elements such as berries, shells, seeds and flowers with vintage adornments and silk butterflies and pearls and crytstals, in fact the only limitation is your imagination with Bohemian Love Story! She works from her studio in Norwich to create accessories, bouquets, button holes and other bespoke commissions.