I was honoured to attend the Bertossi Brides 25th Celebration held at Paddington Weddings in Brisbane. Past brides, future brides, friends, and family, all huddled together on a rainy night to celebrate the past 25 years and to view the launch of Anne’s 2018 Collection. It was evident through the warm smiles and familiar greetings that the journey to reach this point had definitely been a family affair.
As I cast my eyes around the crowded room, they rested on a pair of shears framed proudly against the wall. I asked Gill – Anne’s sister and Business Manager – about their significance. She told me that Anne was brought up in the world of sewing with her parents having their own sewing business back in the UK. Anne and Gill’s late father Ken was a pattern maker and cutter, and it was his shears that were hung in store as a constant reminder of how it all began.
Their mother, Josie, is an amazing seamstress and still works alongside Anne today, earning her title as ‘Crystal fairy’ as she painstakingly crystals full lace gowns for their brides. Not only is Josie mum to Anne and Gill, but to all the brides who come in. Gill is the organiser of the team, coordinating the workroom and ensuring each Bertossi bride is 100% happy with their gown. Supporting the team are Ellen, Anna, and Michelle who work alongside Anne on every gown. They are masters of their craft and are just as passionate as Anne about the fit of each gown. Through five gown fittings, every bride is cherished and inducted into the Bertossi Brides family.
Anne’s 2018 Collection has all the timeless elegance of the last 25 Bertossi Brides collections that she has created. Her ‘Less is More’ mantra is at the forefront of the collection with clean, sophisticated designs created in pure English silks, delicate French laces, and stunning Italian silk Jacquards that Anne hand picked on her trip to Italy earlier this year. As always, Anne was inspired by these beautiful fabrics allowing the quality to shine through with modern, simple lines creating a stunning elegant silhouette for her brides.
Anne normally starts sketching on her way back to her hotel from the mills, as she is flooded with ideas of what the fabric would look like in designs and can’t wait to put them down on paper! It takes around 3 months for the full collection to come together, as Anne works alongside her talented team in her workrooms overlooking Brisbane city. It is important to her that she creates a gown that is beautiful but also comfortable, a gown that will give support where needed, and that will suit brides of many sizes, when worn on such a special day.
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