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All About Alan Hannah

Collections28-Jun-2023

Ahead of Bridal Week Harrogate, we caught up with Alan and Marguerite of Alan Hannah, who chat to us about their creative design process and their most recent partnership with an established bridal figure.

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Tell us the company’s history, how you started and how the brand has developed.

Alan Hannah began in 1990. Shortly afterwards, Marguerite Hannah became the designer and later created our second label MiaMia. All of our Alan Hannah dresses are designed and made in London.

What sets your designs apart from others in the industry?

Marguerite not only designs the dresses, but as an expert pattern cutter, makes sure that her vision is perfectly executed and that our dresses are the perfect synthesis of vision and technical excellence.

What is the brand’s proudest achievement?

Marguerite winning Designer of the Year 7 times!

Can you share any sustainable practices or initiatives you incorporate into your designs?

Yes, we use recycled fabrics whenever possible. All our Alan Hannah dresses are made in the UK, reducing our carbon footprint and providing jobs and opportunities for people who are local to our production. We are very proud to have a workforce who are able to create our beautiful dresses in the best conditions, and who are paid well and treated with respect and dignity.

Can you tell us three interesting facts about the brand?

We have been producing wedding dresses for over 30 years and have never let a retailer down on a delivery.
Each dress is sewn entirely by one seamstress who is responsible for every aspect of the workmanship on that dress.
We can deliver an Alan Hannah dress within just one week if necessary!

Describe your latest collection in three words?

Chic, modern and progressive! I am trying to use more sustainable fabrics throughout my work, and lately the textile industry has been producing some beautiful recycled fabrics and fabric made from natural products, which have advanced at an amazing rate on the last few years.

Can you describe the creative process, from initial concept through to final product?

First of all, I sketch lots of designs. The practical process starts with draping fabrics and embellishment on my mannequin, and I gradually work towards the silhouette I want to create. I then make the pattern and create the prototype in calico fabric. Afterwards, I fit this and alter it on my human studio model and then finesse the pattern. The dress is then cut in the real fabric and sewn by my sample machinist. After going through this process for each dress, I have a meeting with the whole team when we try the collection on a model. This takes a day, and we decide which dresses will make the collection. There are plenty of tweaks and last-minute changes, but this is the basic template!

What does the future hold for you? Do you have any exciting upcoming plans you can share with us?

We are now working with Helena Cotter, who is a face known to many of you. Like ourselves, she has been involved in our industry for many years and as our new sales agent she is uniquely trusted and liked by the whole industry. She will be with us for Bridal Week in Harrogate.

Why is Bridal Week so important to you?

At Bridal Week, we have a chance to showcase all our hard work to an amazing audience. This is the biggest show for UK retailers, and we wouldn’t miss it for the world!