How did you fall in love with the bridal industry, and how has your brand evolved since?

As a fashion designer, my interest in the bridal industry began during my own wedding process. In an era where options are endless, I was surprised to find the bridal design field relatively untouched, unchanged, and consistently sticking to the same style. This both amazed and triggered my designer and entrepreneurial instincts. I pondered on this matter seriously. After a year-long preparation period, I founded Project.Bridal in 2018. I began welcoming my first brides in a mini showroom set up in a room of my house. Within 6 years, that tiny room transformed into a global brand present in 15 countries across 4 continents.

Where would we find your design studio? Tell us more about your creative spaces and processes.

We have a flagship store in Maçka, Istanbul’s high fashion center, designed with a minimal, simple, and raw style that reflects the modern design elements of Project.Bridal. Here, we offer services to brides from Turkey and around the world, who often come to Turkey specifically to buy wedding dresses, by appointment.
Our creation and production area is also located here, emphasizing the importance of integrating these two areas. In Turkey, we provide a personalized service where production and customer service are intertwined. We deliver our designs to brides through our stockists, tailored according to their measurements rather than made to size, which has become a trademark of our brand.
The creation process always starts with setting a mood. Then, our workshop team brings the designs from paper to reality through meticulous efforts. Additional pieces are be designed and added to the collection depending on the shoot’s mood, while the collection’s accessories are produced and designed simultaneously by a separate team.

Talk us through your signature design elements.

Project.Bridal’s signature design elements include minimalism, reflected in unconventional silhouettes and clean lines. We prioritize craftsmanship and attention to detail, ensuring the highest standards of quality in every garment. Our designs offer versatility, catering to a diverse range of tastes and preferences. Ultimately, our goal is to empower brides to express their unique style and feel confident on their wedding day.

What’s something new you are excited to share with us?

In 2024, we are relocating our brand’s headquarters from Istanbul to London. This is an exciting new venture in our global journey. We have reached an agreement for our third sales point in Los Angeles, USA. We continue to expand our shoe and bridal accessories collection. With new product ranges and sales points, we intend to continue our global journey.

Three facts we should know about the brand.

1. The brand was founded in 2018 out of a necessity and idea stemming from my inability to find the wedding dress i was looking for.
2. I welcomed my first brides in my workshop, which i established in a room of my own home. Then the brand quickly became a brand that meets the needs of modern brides at 15 sales points on 4 continents.
3. The brand is a Turkish brand, and Turkey is currently the 3rd largest textile producer in the world. Therefore, our production line is very wide and diverse. Our lead times are faster than many of the brands, and the craftsmanship is known to be exquisite.

Give us an insight into what inspried the current collection.

I always start from real needs. As can be understood from the name Project.Bridal, it’s a practical and straightforward brand. That’s why we don’t even name our collections anymore. I’m not interested in the story that much. I’m more into creating designs that are visually pleasing with an exquisite craftsmanship. I prefer not to design pieces that cannot be worn. That’s why my inspiration always comes from the real women around me.

What kind of brides do you envisage wearing your pieces?

We love working with brides who are fearless and unafraid to be different. Those who have a personal style that is ahead of trends. Especially brides who can coordinate everything from their dress to their cake, from their chosen photographer to their table settings within a single concept.

If you had to choose one piece that really highlights the vision of the collection, which would it be?

It would be our dazzling Lucite vest. Fashion forward and out of the box.

What trends do you predict within the industy over the coming year?

Although minimalism trend continues, volumes are growing considerably. There is a return to 90s style big taffeta, balloon skirts and low corsets. Designs started to become very theatrical. We have become one of the brands that have defined this trend with our collections for the last 2 seasons.

Here, we should not talk about trends independently of the global economic conjuncture. The worldwide economic crisis period affected the fashion and especially the bridal industry. Nowadays, brides want to see the value of their purchase clearly in the product, even if it is a simple design. For this reason, volumes are growing considerably, corset and embroidery details, and haute couture touches are gaining importance.

Why is exhibiting at White Gallery important to you?

Since we are relocating our company to London, the UK market and especially White Gallery hold extra importance for us. The fact that it is a more boutique fair and features selective brands was the reason of preference for us.

How can retailers get in touch?

Retailers can contact us via hello@projectbridal.co