Bridal Buyer catches up with Gemma Managh, the super-talented proprietor of Precious Veils
Precious Veils was birthed from two of my passions - bridal hairstyling and my volunteering. As a bridal hair specialist, I recognised that many styles did not lend themselves to the traditional comb attachment on bridal veils. Therefore, to improve comfort and fit I created an attachment which can be secured with hair grips.
Alongside this, whilst I was volunteering within organisations that supported survivors of human trafficking, I discovered that many of them were highly skilled in tailoring. Therefore, I developed the idea to make beautiful bridal veils, with this new attachment, as a means to offer education and employment.
The success of Precious Veils can only be attributed by following the vision and dream to bring hope through education and employment. Each person involved, from designers at Belfast fashion college to our Syrian tailor, has brought such invaluable talent and passion to the team!
Our most popular design is the Anna veil with scattered Swarovski crystals. However, the Martha veil will always hold a special place in my heart as it was the first veil completely designed and made by survivors of human trafficking within a restoration environment.
In five years I see Precious Veils as a thriving brand supporting social issues both locally and globally.
If I could be remembered for one thing it would be that I was able to encourage and support people in their journey and adventures. I love the word “precious” and there is nothing more precious than time, so make the most of every day!
With each veil we start with a mood board and theme, from there we will pull together different fabrics and beading which will then evolve into beautiful designs. Hope was created with an anchor design using delicate lace appliqué. Through the journey of Precious Veils, the anchor symbol has been very significant to us and a constant reminder of our vision. Every veil has its own story, making each one special. We also offer a bespoke service where a bride can come and design her own veil to compliment her gown.
We are currently in the middle of creating mood boards, and so far, there is a lot of delicate detailing, sparkles and precious designs. These will be available on our website very soon, so keep an eye out.
We have a typical minimum order to suppliers of five veils, however, we are quite flexible and this is not a strict requirement if there is a piece you particularly love.
Interested in starting your own bridal business? Take a look at Jane Watson’s advice on setting up shop.