Posts by TheFashionBrides
FashionBride Interview with Patricia of Cre8ive Invitations
Her absolute love for her work and her incredible talent make you love every piece she signs. To my delight Patricia accepted the invitation of answering my FashionBride questionnaire. Here is the result! Enjoy!
When did you decide to become a designer & why did you find this domain interesting?
I was designing and creating invitations for family and friends for years as a hobby before it became my full-time career. I have always been passionate for all things paper plus great design. As a child I loved to collect notebooks, diary’s, paper dolls – anything paper. So after leaving corporate life in the fall of 2004, I knew I needed to combine my two favourite things; 1) love of paper & 2 ) unique design. During my research, I noticed very little had changed since choosing invitations for my own wedding more than 20 years ago. I am now one of the fortunate few where my passion is my job.
Talk us through the first years of your work. Maybe you could tell us what did change in time? Are your designs different from the very beginning?
Our first years were exciting – everything was new! New life experiences, new vendors, new clients. I was gratified to find the invitations that I had created ‘for fun’ over the years were embraced by all. The buzz & word of mouth generated by my first clients reinforced to me that I was indeed on the right track. Many of those very first clients are still clients today!
Our designs remain unique, elegant and fun, but we’ve been able to offer much more since our beginning; brilliant Swarovski Crystals, elegant Glass beaded Papers, unique textures and eye-popping embellishments. Elements sourced from all over the world.
Why should a bride-to-be choose one of your designs?
If a bride-to-be is looking for truly unique design coupled with stunning papers & embellishments, then we can help. Our designs are fresh & original and strike an emotional chord with our clients – both bride & groom-to-be alike. They arrive for their first consultation unsure & perhaps a little overwhelmed by the list of pre-wedding ‘to-do’s’. But they leave our studio with incredible excitement knowing that their invitation will truly set their event in motion & IGNITE EXCITEMENT to their big day.
Do tell us a bit more about your inspiration sources.
Inspiration for our designs sometimes come from the most unusual places. For instance, a series of events posted on a white board during an FBI TV show triggered the creation of our very popular “Time Line”. Our clients love them! We incorporate icons, dates/times & a brief description of the event along a time-line. At a glance, guests can see exactly what is happening where & when.
Inspiration is everywhere – travel, nature, architecture, interior design & so much more.
Have you got any piece you’ve created that has special meaning for you? Can you describe it or can you show us a picture?
One of my favorite pieces is an invitation I created following a trip to Paris, France. I fell in love with the city. The language, the lifestyle, the romance & of course the iconic Eiffel Tower. We created a square invitation with soft, romantic feathers. On the cover we added a shaker box brimming with faux pearls & micro beads that move around & ‘shake‘. Within the shaker box is an image of the Eiffel Tower at the end of a long tree-lined path. We added a brilliant Swarovski Crystal accent to the tip of the tower for added glamour.
As it turns out, we’re not the only one that loved how this invitation turned out.
It’s currently featured in;
• WedLuxe Magazine – The Daydream Issue – Toronto & Eastern Canada, Summer/Fall 2010
• Elegant Wedding Magazine – Toronto, Volume 2, 2010 – 2011
• image attached
From your point of view, what should a perfect wedding be like?
A ‘perfect wedding’ can be different things to different people. Some may like a party or night club atmosphere, others may prefer a casual backyard gathering under the stars, while some couples may prefer a cocktail party feel with comfortable seating & soft music. Regardless of the mood or theme you want to create, continuity is key. Keep your chosen theme consistent. Pay special attention to the details of your chosen theme and you’ll be guaranteed a day that you and your guests will never forget.
Tell us what would you offer and, maybe, other brands can’t.
Cre8ive Invitations is founded on two key principles; provide a unique product with outstanding Customer Service. From the first moment a bride contacts us whether through a referral, our website [ www.cre8iveinvitations], Twitter [Twitter.com/Cre8iveInvite] or print media, our ability to engage with & earn a client’s trust is foremost in our minds.
We have been told by Event Planners & Brides alike that from the very first consultation where themes, colours & visions come to life, to the very last Thank You card we create following their event, we were always there to consult, guide, recommend & create an unforgettable product with an exceptional vendor experience.
Last but not least, do you have any advice for FashionBride readers?
Have fun & enjoy the planning & preparation of your big day. Planning a wedding is for most, the biggest event they will ever organize. But all too often the ‘fun’ is lost among the long ‘to-do’ lists. Remember to allow yourself plenty of time & have fun along the way !!
Novia D’Art 2011 Bridal Collection
Novia d’Artwas established in Barcelona in 1967 as the result of the Raich Farré family’s longstanding tradition in the world of fashion. The innovative nature and quality of its designs were an immediate success with the high society of the time and marked the beginning of a business career that continues its succes story today.
Novestia 2011 Bridal Collection
Wedding dresses and bridal gowns that transform each woman into the beaming, blushing, and beautiful bride she’s meant to be. Novestia’s designer wedding dresses crafted by an award winning, world renowned designer, the collection combines unparalleled craftsmanship with fine fabrication.
Novissima 2011 Vintage Bridal Collection
Since it was founded more than four decades ago, Novissima has established itself as one of the most important companies in Spain with regard to design, manufacture and marketing of bridal gowns and ball gowns. Novissima is present in almost very city in Spain as well as in Lisbon and Porto, Portugal.
Francis Montesinas 2010 Bridal Collection
The Francis Montesinas Bridal Collection for Franc Sarabia presents notes of romantic inspiration for a bride looking for airs of sophistication and elegance without going over the top.
Maria Lucia Hohan 2011 Bridal Collection
Maria Lucia Hohan’s bridal collection is comprised of beautiful dresses perfect for an engagement party, bridal shower, or the wedding day itself. From blush pinks, creams, and soft grays, all of her dresses are flowy and detailed, made with the modern girly girl in mind.
Mori Lee 2010 Bridal Collection
Your search for traditional and original bridal gowns and wedding dresses has lead to you Mori Lee 2010, the award winning designers and creators of dresses which are the epitome of elegance. Glistening with hand sewn Swarovski crystals or uniquely crafted for fit, these bridal and wedding dresses allow your unique spirit to shine on the most important day of your life.
Alfred Sung Signature 2011 Bridal Collection
Alfred Sung is a Canadian fashion designer, producing apparel, fragrance, accessories and home fashions for women and men. He was born in Shanghai and raised in Hong Kong. Sung is the brother of late Hong Kong actress Lydia Shum.
FashionBride interview with Jenny Lu from Albeit
To find out more about her work and personal style, but also about some great wedding tips, we talked to Jenny and made up this amazing interview. Read along and enjoy all these precious info!
1. When did you decided to become a designer and why did you find this domain interesting?
Ever since I was a girl, I’ve always been drawn to art and design. I love the way fashion, jewelry, buildings, and interiors change and beautify our everyday perception of the world. My particular interest was initially rooted in architecture and interiors, which I pursued in my studies. My designs for Albeit Jewelry have been heavily influenced by this. With influences from the work of Zaha Hadid and Daniel Libeskind, I have come to realize that architecture is very much like pieces of jewels strewn over a vast landscape. Inspired by Hadid’s constant morphing shapes in her buildings, the notion ‘art in flux’ has really had an impact on my design style. With this convergence of architecture and jewelry design, I have tried to create pieces that translate this fluidity in life.
2. Talk us trough the first years of you work. Maybe you could tell us what did change in time? Are your designs different from the very beginning?
Well, this is my first collection. But in my next collection which I am currently working on, I would like to build upon and explore how further I can push this switch in design vocabulary.
3. Why should a bride-to-be choose one of your designs?
A bride-to-be should choose my pieces because it’s the perfect platform for self-expression in the utmost understated manner. It signifies a little bit of the wearer in its simplicity, however it is this simplicity in design that conveys the power and sophistication of the wearer. It exudes a flirtatious mystery or an intimate secret with a hint of who you are and what you share with your beloved. It shows the world that the possibilities are endless and there is a special story between the bride and groom that only you two know of. Whether you wear a letter initial to celebrate your new last name or wear a sacred number that perhaps you and your other half-share, there is something very distinct about wearing a pendant that is uniquely catered to your story.
4. Do tell us a bit more about your inspiration sources.
I love incorporating 2 Dimensional typographical elements into 3 Dimensional objects. Whether it’s a direct extruding of the font type or an extraction of the meaning of the graphic principles, I love how typography decodes so many informative details. Typography has the ability to instantaneously tell us a time period, a location, a vibe and characteristics of this certain breed. The font used for Albeit’s pendants suggests a modern sophisticated women that also has an appetite for a flare.
5. Have you got any piece you’ve created and that has a very special meaning for you? Can you describe it or can show us a picture?
I’ve always been a big fan of curly brackets….or others might call it the parenthesis symbol. Not only do I love the shape and curve of this symbol, I love what it implies; Indicating that there’s more to be told, that there is an additional depth and complexity to the overall story. I love the open-ended mystery it suggests!
A perfect bride should look effortless and comfortable in her own skin. She should not try to fit a particular mold or tradition, but try to look the way that makes her feel beautiful and represents who she is.
7. And tell us what would you give her and, maybe, other brands can’t.
Albeit can give an everlasting necklace in either 14k or white gold. It will stay with you even if you wear them in the shower. The necklaces will never tarnish. It’s subtle and dainty, yet it makes a bold statement on it’s own.
8. Last but not least, do you have any advice for FashionBride readers?
Continue to immerse yourself into the things that you love. Passions aren’t just passions; great outcomes derive from it! I promise!
Hannibal Laguna 2011 Bridal Collection
Hannibal Laguna has been a regular presence on the Spanish catwalks since 1990, appearing at the Cibeles and Gaudí fashion shows. Since 1998 he has presented in Autumn-Winter and Spring-Summer collections for men and women at Barcelona Estilo Hombre (Barcelona Men Style) y Barcelona Estilo Mujer (Barcelona Women Style). Since 1997 he has also presented his bridal wear collections at the annual Novia España Show (Spanish Bride Show), part of the Barcelona Fashion Week.