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

Maggie Sottero’s journey began over 25 years ago when Wayne and Lesley Webster founded a boutique in Sydney, Australia. As the brand blossomed, Lesley Margaret ("Maggie") Webster adopted the name "Maggie Sottero" in tribute to her great-grandmother. Today, the family legacy thrives as their daughter, Kelly Midgley, assumes the role of CEO and Creative Director since 2020.

Having spent nearly 45 years in the bridal business, Kelly reflects on her upbringing with gratitude, stating, "Growing up in the bridal business was a joy. My mother and grandmother, strong ladies in business, were my greatest influences. They taught me that there are no barriers. If you want something and work hard, you will find a way to make things happen."

Kelly fondly recalls her childhood, hiding among the racks of the bridal boutique and engaging in heartfelt conversations with staff and vendors who treated her like family. She emphasizes the positive impact of these experiences on her life. As the torchbearer of this family legacy, Kelly looks forward to introducing her twin girls to Maggie, expressing her gratitude for the privilege of being a business owner in a women-led company and a mother. Maggie Sottero expanded its presence by establishing two additional labels. Sottero and Midgley caters to the chic and statement-making bride, embodying the spirit of the brand. Meanwhile, Rebecca Ingram pays homage to Kelly’s great-great-grandmother, completing the trio of collections with a perfect blend of style and affordability.

What sets your bridal designs apart from others in the industry?

Maggie Sottero creates gowns with the bride in mind, no matter their style, budget, timeline, aesthetic, persona, size, or identity. Drawing inspiration from our brides’ unique backgrounds and love stories, Maggie Sottero not only keeps pace with but leads the way in the hottest trends. Each season ignites a creative spark within us, urging reflection, innovation, and the crafting of a fresh, forward-thinking aesthetic across our trio of collections: Maggie Sottero, Sottero and Midgley, and Rebecca Ingram. Every dress upholds our commitment to premium construction, impeccable styling, and incomparable fit.

What is the brand’s proudest achievement? 

Maggie Sottero Designs achieved the extraordinary milestone of 25 years in the bridal business in 2022. However, Maggie’s proudest moments go beyond longevity in the industry. Significantly, Maggie Sottero keeps every bride’s beauty and love story at the forefront by proudly championing diversity through marketing efforts. In 2018, Maggie was the first brand to showcase a stunning curve supermodel, Project Runway winner Liris Crosse, on the runway and in the campaign. She embodied Maggie in every way and brought further awareness that every bride deserves and can feel like the best version of themselves. In 2022, Maggie was honored to partner with the non-profit organization All Bodies, All Brides (ABAB) on an ultra-inclusive styled shoot. ABAB was founded to encourage bridal shop owners, designers, stylists, and other industry professionals to learn how to encourage inclusivity and accessibility while promoting body positivity, language inclusivity, gender neutrality, and disability-minded communication and action. This photoshoot represented the idea that all brides with disabilities deserve to feel beautiful and celebrated in their dream gowns. In 2023, Maggie partnered with Blerona "Lona" Krivanjeva, Maggie’s first little-person influencer. Lona’s gown shopping experience garnered more than 20 million social media views, and she got married in her dream dress during Dwarfism Awareness Month. Additionally in 2023, through a partnership with Love Inc. Magazine, Maggie participated in the brand’s first drag queen styled shoot to promote inclusivity and acceptance in the bridal industry. Maggie recognizes that our success is a direct correlation to the success of our retailers. In 2019, Maggie launched "Primed for Success," a retailer program that offers training, resources, expert knowledge, and support. In 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Maggie Sottero was honored with the Bridal Buyer Award for Best Customer Service. Maggie proudly supports our retailers in the best of times and the worst of times. Maggie’s "Personalize It!" program was proudly launched in 2020, which allows brides to truly customize their gowns to make them perfectly tailored to their dreams and helps stylist close the sale. 

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

Maggie Sottero is a third-generation family-owned company committed to creating a more sustainable future for the next generation and beyond. We are on a mission to learn best practices, reduce our environmental impact, and restore vital ecosystems, from Maggie’s beloved birthplace, Australia, to the Great Salt Lake Region we call home. We’re reimagining everything we do with a regenerative, future-facing view. The Maggie family is committed to being the change, disrupting the standard, and creating the future to ensure our brides’ love stories—and our Planet— endure. Maggie Sottero is working as quickly as we can to reduce our environmental impact, taking ambitious action in three key areas: Waste Reduction, Resource Consumption, and Biodiversity Protection. In honor of every Maggie Sottero bride, we plant a tree with the non-profit One Tree Planted. Since August 2023, Maggie Sottero has planted over 21,000 trees, equating to an entire forest. This is just scratching the surface of the company-wide sustainability efforts Maggie has put in place; visit here to dive deeper.

Maggie Sottero is working to become a more regenerative brand. We’re investing in the circular textile supply chain, and the Spring 2024 collections debuted gowns made with lower-impact materials, such as recycled polyester and yarn-dyed fabrics. The Fall 2024 collections will follow suit with select gowns made of lower impact materials, expanding the current selection. Additionally, a majority of all ivory gowns from previous collections and onward will be manufactured with a lower-impact lining.

Can you tell us three interesting facts about the brand? 

1. Maggie Sottero won two Bridal Buyer Awards in 2022, Best Supplier and Best Wedding Dress, Harlem!
2. In a partnership with the non-profit One Tree Planted, Maggie Sottero plants a tree in honour of every Maggie Bride and has planted an entire forest of 21,000+ trees since August 2023.
3. Maggie Sottero designs three labels - Maggie Sottero, Sottero and Midgley, and Rebecca Ingram - all legacy names.

What inspired your latest collection, and how do you stay current with bridal fashion trends? 

For the upcoming Fall 2024 collections, we are thrilled to embrace the nostalgic charm of the 90s aesthetic, infusing it with chic and simplistic features. The Regal Maximalism trend takes center stage, showcasing extravagant trains and resplendent gold hues. Delicately feminine elements permeate this collection, featuring intricate beaded lace, artful ruching, and captivating 3D embellishments. Classic opulence is redefined through the inclusion of standout pearls and dazzling jackets. Our daringly sexy styles make a bold statement, incorporating side illusions, peek-a-boo cutouts, and alluring plunging necklines that captivate attention. Lastly, our commitment to sustainability is evident in styles crafted from lower-impact materials. Each season, we strive to elevate our labels to cater to our diverse brides’ unique needs and preferences as trends evolve. At the heart of our design philosophy is the belief that every bride has a unique love story that deserves to be celebrated beautifully and meaningfully. That’s why Maggie Sottero prioritizes understanding our brides’ needs and desires through development events held throughout the year. We engage with brides and their families during these events to better understand their love stories, wedding visions, and overall style preferences. We listen closely to their feedback and take note of the details that are most important to them. From there, we translate this feedback into designs that capture the essence of each bride’s story and reflect their personal style.

Describe your latest collection in three words 

Chic. Cool. Flirty.

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

Maggie always looks to modernize trends while maintaining our core mission of prioritizing the bride’s comfort and fit. The creative process begins by looking for inspiration at couture ready-to-wear shows and gathering feedback from brides through design focus groups. A lot of time and attention is spent choosing fabrics, laces, embellishments, and accessories. We are ecstatic to unveil the culmination of our efforts—the exquisite final product of the Fall 2024 collection.

What design trends have emerged from the collection (silhouettes, materials, embellishments)?

The standout trends highlighted in the Fall 2024 collections include simple yet chic designs, standout trains, beaded lace, ruching, 3D elements, standout pearls, side illusions, peek-a-boo cutouts, and plunging necklines.

Is there a single piece which embodies the vision of the whole collection? Can you tell us more about it?    

Crafted from luxurious Cartago satin, Fortune by Maggie Sottero embodies the epitome of cool girl chic. The strapless cat eye neckline and drop waist, coupled with the alluring lace-up corset and convenient pockets, transforms this gown into an undeniable showstopper. Elevating its allure further, the ivory colorway features an inner lining made entirely of recycled polyester, reflecting a commitment to both style and sustainability.

Why is Bridal Week so important to you? 

We love connecting with our valued partners at Bridal Week to celebrate the new collections together! To make the most informed buys possible, it is essential to see a dress on the runway to understand how the fabric moves, feels, and catches the light.

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

Maggie Sottero thrives as a dynamic force in the ever-evolving realm of bridal fashion. Anticipate a future filled with exciting revelations, including meaningful strides in sustainability partnerships, a commitment to fostering diversity, and groundbreaking collaborations that redefine the brand landscape.

What is your stand number? How can retailers get in touch to book an appointment with you at the show?

Queen Suite, Jenny.williams@maggiesottero.com

Find out more

To view the Maggie Sottero collections and claim your free pass for Europe’s first bridal buying event of the year, register by clicking here.