FashionBride Interview with Charlotte Leung

Getting to interview a designer is a privilege, in words you discover a world that can be seen only in wonderful creations, a world that will reveal to us only when we’ll get the chance to wear such incredible designs.

I’ve tried to get Charlotte Leung (the designer behind the Augusta Jones Brand) to answer the basic questions and give us a n inside view on how you can turn some materials into a dream gown.

When did you decided to become a designer and why a focus on brides?

It wasn’t any particular plan. I left a career in banking for something “more me”. I hadn’t a clue what – only that I wanted the next thing in my life to be creative and project based. It was pure serendipity that a mutual friend put me in touch with a Bridal Designer who needed help launching her collection in Europe. Having grown up with exposure to the fashion industry through my Mother. who was both a model and designer in the 70’s, I found it surprisingly natural to step into this world. My step-mother, June, who is a little younger than me teamed up with me a couple of years into my own business and now heads the design team.

How did your first wedding gown looked like? Do you remember, can you describe it a bit?

One of our first designs was a strapless corset and it sold like hotcakes. It was trimmed with a 50’s cuff with piped seams to accentuate a waistline. This was in the late 90’s before strapless was considered a “bridal” option.

Tell us about your inspiration and a bit more about the process of creating a gown.

Travel has heavily influenced our work. India has given us a real appreciation for rich beading design; China and Japan for delicate embroidery techniques.  We start each collection with a general idea of what we like, then go through an initial round of sketches and finally we fine tune these ideas with sample gowns on mannequins – last season was more 70’s inspired and we designed around beautiful rhinestone broaches that were used to clasp chiffon trains. We were both in the mood for lighter more carefree attitude to the gowns.

How long does it take to create a brand new gown?

It can take up to 3 months to develop a particular dress – to get it just right requires back and forth between us and the sample room.

Do you also work with brides? Or you just offer them a given pattern?

We have in the past when we had a shop. It was great fun pulling a look together for a bride as you really got to know everything about the wedding. The way we work now is through the excellent shops who sell our gowns.

Have you got any particular dress you designed and has a very special meaning for you? A dress that you remember and care about?

We once designed a fully embroidered blue denim wedding gown for a catwalk finale. I thought it would be a fun surprise and there were plenty of smiles at the show when the model stepped out. We had a version in ivory for brides too. No one was more surprised than me when we actually took orders in blue denim for brides!

Do you think a bride should stick to white in a more traditional approach ? Or should we start thinking in colors?

I love colour but there is something incredibly special about a gown made in shades of white. Nothing says “I am a bride” quite like a white, ivory or cream gown does. We have played with colour on white, ivory and cream – with barely there hints of dusty pinks and mint greens. At the moment we have returned to a cleaner palette.

In your point of view, how should a perfect bride be? What do you have to offer and other brands don’t.

My idea, back in the late 90s, was to give the bride as much input into the design of her gown as possible. So we design with a certain inbuilt flexibility to our styles where brides can individualize the gowns to suit their requirements better. Our gowns come with a select variety of options on fabric; of beadwork as well as simple changes to necklines. My idea of a perfect bride is someone who not only feels confident and special in her gown but ultimately she should feel relaxed and be herself.

Why do you think your gowns stay apart from the crowd?

I guess we simply design what we like. We find that styles we designed 2 seasons earlier suddenly become popular so we joke that we are fashion forward.

Can you give us an insight on your 2009 Collection? What where your inspiration sources, what did you opt for as materials, shapes etc.

Our current collection can be divided into two looks; the first is structured with pleating and folds moulding to the body. The second is more romantic in tone – lighter and carefree. Chameuse, soft tulles and lace dominate though we are also using chiffons, satins, Thai silks, mikados and organzas.

How was your gown when you got married?

The irony is we eloped and got married by a river in the Napa valley, California. It wasn’t planned, so no dress. I wore black jeans and a white t-shirt. The witness who we had just met, cried. It was really sweet! I wouldn’t change a thing – it was perfect for us.

Last but not least, do you have any advice for FashionBride readers?

Plan what you can and don’t worry about the rest.

ps: great advice Charlotte!!! 😀