Morilee, the iconic New York bridal house, is excited to announce the appointment of Jiyup Kim as the new Chief Design Officer. Kim steps into this pivotal role following the resignation of longtime Chief Design and Creative Officer, Madeline Gardner, at the end of March. Gardner, who remains on the Morilee Board of Directors, shared her decision to "step back from day-to-day business" on Instagram, expressing her eagerness to embrace "new challenges and opportunities."

Jiyup Kim: A Visionary Leader for Morilee

Kim brings an impressive background to Morilee, having spent over a decade as the Senior Design Director at Vera Wang. There, she shaped the creative direction for luxury bridal, red carpet, and special occasion collections. Her extensive experience includes notable stints with Jason Wu, Donna Karan, and Marchesa. In her own words, Kim expressed her excitement about joining Morilee: "I feel truly honoured to lead the design and believe that my experience will significantly contribute to the brand’s captivating future in a meaningful way."

Kim is committed to infusing Morilee’s bridal and special occasion collections with elevated luxury and style. "I plan to bring my expertise to blend the sophistication and grandeur of the red carpet with the delicate intricacies of bridal," she says. "Ensuring each piece feels unique and unforgettable is my goal."

Leadership and Vision

Morilee’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Terri Eagle, was meticulous in her search for a new designer, prioritising a candidate who understood the house of design beyond just wedding dresses. Eagle found the perfect match in Kim, noting, "Jiyup Kim just lit up the room. The smile, the joy, the love she has for design, it’s captivating." Eagle added, "Not only was she involved in design, but she was also involved in the creative, so she can bring those two pieces together to truly modernise us."