One of our retailers, Davids Bridal interviewed me for their customers to see the face behind the brand, Brides & Hairpins. It has been such an honor to work with such a professional team.
Your career story is so inspiring! Can you share a little bit more about your journey from the corporate to bridal world?
I wasn’t always a jewelry designer. Once I got my degree in business and economics, I got a great banking job that enabled me to live and travel in other countries. I started in London, England, traveled Europe ,then ended up living in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. After a year of working in South East Asia, it wasn’t until I got back to the UK and stared at my spreadsheets and the four grey walls of the massive building, that I yearned to be creative and follow my passion. The reality is I’m a creative and I am not a corporate cookie cutter.
Where it all began…
I grew up in South Africa and as a 9-year old I paint and sold ceramics at my local flea market. I had insane attention to detail to every stroke and I could sit and paint for hours. So, while I was in my corporate job, I put myself through beauty school, got my cosmetology license and went to makeup school in Hollywood. I jumped right into doing makeup and hair. The irony is that before I went to makeup school; I didn’t even know what eyeliner was!
After a ton of hard work and dedication, things took off like a rocket. I built a team, travelled the world, and was doing makeup and hair for celebrities and TV and red carpets. I was constantly booked out, even a year in advance, and as I was doing more wedding, I fell in love with my brides and weddings. So, I guess it was always a no-brainer to become a jewelry designer. In 2013, I jumped into designing accessories and haven’t looked back.
Are there any lessons or practices that you learned from the corporate world that you still use today?
The corporate world taught me professionalism, how to conduct myself correctly and how to deliver on time and deliver well. I have an extremely hard work ethic and this was ingrained into me when I was working in the competitive Investment Banking world in London. I was the first person in the office and the last to leave and I have carried this with me – being an entrepreneur can be challenging!
What inspired you to focus on bridal hair accessories?
I was a bridal hair and makeup artist and I would love to create gorgeous hairstyles on my brides but I really felt there was a gap in the market for the changing, modern day bride who wasn’t looking to have flowers in her hair or that wanted very flowery accessories. I wanted to create something lightweight, that could be worn throughout the day, and that wouldn’t compromise the hairstyle or comfort on the day. What I love most about our pieces is that they are timeless, contemporary, and can literally be worn again for a night out or to different events and functions.
How and where do you source inspiration for each collection?
My family and my Greek heritage inspired my latest 2020 collection. Greece has some of the most incredible jewelry and accessories. When vacationing over there in the summer, I was so inspired by everything I saw and experienced. Greece is alive and buzzing with beautiful people and beautiful places, and this has honestly been my most favorite collection to date. We also get a lot of inspiration from wedding blogs, magazines, runway shows, and of course, social media. Our hairstylist friends also inspire us daily! We love to see where hair trends are going. Those styles run parallel to any new designs we want to create!
Can you walk us through how a piece comes to life?
I start with hand-drawn designs. I change up my drafts several times and always have 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions on every piece. My team and I get together and do a ton of brainstorming regarding latest trends and ideas. I also have an amazing group of designers that all work together to create each new seasonal collection. We are an all-female team based in Orange County, CA, and we know what is working in the bridal world and what will be a game-changer for the next season. It’s challenging and so exciting at the same time.
From your experience as a professional hairstylist, do you have any recommendations for how brides can incorporate hair accessories into their wedding day look?
Have a look through Pinterest and other magazines to get a feel for what stands out for you. You always want to feel like yourself on your wedding day, but it is also the only day you can wear whatever you want and get away with it. Look for an accessory that completes your look, whether it’s a comb, a halo, or even a pair of earrings. Don’t be afraid to shine! A wedding has so many opportunities to spend money! The venue, the dress, the food, the flowers – it all adds up! What really matters is that you feel you’re most beautiful. Your hairpiece, earrings, and veil are the accent that focuses on how beautiful you look. It creates the wow-factor and takes people’s breath away!
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Be part of this journey with me as a multipassionate entrepreneur. As we have seen from 2020, things change weekly and I would love to share my life of motherhood, business and purpose with you.
