Things You Didn't Know About the Bridal Industry
This summer I had the amazing opportunity to intern at Stanley Korshak in Dallas, Texas. I mostly worked in the bridal department and had the pleasure of interviewing Stanley Korshak’s Bridal Buyer, Christina Plumlee. Throughout the interview, I learned so much about the industry and compiled a list of things that people might not automatically know about the bridal industry to give you an idea of what it entails and ambition for future career opportunities.
There is no set path to working in the bridal industry.
This summer I learned that many do not start out in the fashion industry and that the industry finds them. For example, Mrs. Plumlee started out working in the photography business, doing weddings in the Dallas area. When the time came to change gears and find another career, she had a myriad of connections from previous weddings that led her to a position in bridal and has loved the industry ever since. This just goes to show that sometimes finding a career consists of being in the right place at the right time. You never know what opportunities you will run into.
Although glamorous, the industry is not without its challenges.
If being surrounded by a sea of white bridal gowns everyday sounds like a dream, you are not wrong. The gowns are beautiful and it feels similar to working in haute couture, being amongst pieces that take hours of craftsmanship to create. However, that does not mean working in bridal is never stressful and demanding. These gowns represent a very special moment for brides and finding a gown can be an emotional decision, a sometimes very complex process. Customer service in this industry is unlike any other because it is a special moment in time for the client that she will likely never forget. Juggling communication, timing, and execution of all the details associated with a purchase is crucial. Like I said, the industry can be challenging but is very rewarding and unlike any other.
The bridal industry has drastically changed in the last few decades.
Two to three decades ago, weddings and brides looked a lot different than they do today. Styles were conservative and catholic churches required sleeves. Over time, society has changed substantially along with “acceptable” bridal designs. With this rising acceptance, more and more styles have emerged for the wedding day and the industry has extensively grown. There is a lot of competition, making it hard for emerging designers to gain any reputation or visibility.
Buy-now, wear-now does not exist in the bridal industry.
In the era of fast fashion, when new styles are all over social media or introduced in a runway show people expect to be able to buy the product immediately. What people do not realize is that bridal gowns are basically a form of haute couture. Just because you see a bridal design on the runway does not mean it is available or will even be a part of a designer’s upcoming collection. Especially since bridal gowns take months to make, the buying process is ongoing and the complete opposite of fast fashion that people have become accustomed to today.
