Dynamic, innovative, and unquestionably chic, Marylise & Rembo Fashion Group (MRFG) has a long history in the bridal fashion industry, dating back nearly 100 years. Now spearheaded by the fourth-generation of the family, Cedric De Vlieger and his sister Chiara, the company continues to weave the legacy of their great-grandparents into the very fabric of the fashion house’s business.

This May, MRFG will be showing its three unique lines at White Gallery, and ahead of the show, Bridal Buyer caught up with Cedric to gain some insight into the evolution of the family business, design philosophies, and what the future holds.

On Heritage 

"Our family business started in 1926 with my great-grandparents, Joseph and Maria, as a hat and accessories shop for brides, which then evolved into a bridal wholesaler," explains Cedric. "The first bridal collection, the Marylise brand, was created in 1973 by my grandfather, Carlo. It combines the names of Maryse and Annelise, my aunts, so it’s even more special that it remains as a family business today.” 

Under the leadership of Cedric’s parents in the 1980s, the focus narrowed exclusively to bridal gowns. The acquisition of Rembo Styling in 2008 further expanded their horizons, incorporating a production atelier in Portugal. Cedric tells us: “Our production atelier in Portugal still exists today and is one of the strengths of our company. We make all the dresses ourselves, which give us a big advantage in terms of delivering flexibility and high quality service to our customers.”

The latest addition to the company is Carta Branca, which was launched in 2020, with the aim of breaking creative barriers. “With our three brands, we reach a wide audience of brides and can answer their needs with creativity and innovation,” says Cedric.

Design Philosophy

Each of the group’s brands caters to distinct bridal preferences. For instance, Marylise is known for its very feminine style with romantic details and sophisticated shapes.“Marylise brides want modern wedding dresses with timeless bridal elements,” says Cederic. “The most popular styles include clean, flattering shapes, minimal designs and lace details. In general, our brides are looking for elegance and sensuality.”  

Rembo Styling is all about innovation, each season the label explores new shapes, new fabrics and new combinations that brides want to wear. “Rembo brides are looking for a light and comfortable wedding dress that reflects their personality, so our designs include a lot of spirit and character,” he explains. 

Finally is Carta Branca, which is all about freedom of choice and expression with its modern and minimalistic designs. The garments are all about effortless shapes and flattering silhouettes, always crafted in silk.  

When asked about his preferred materials, Cedric’s passion for quality is evident. "We always work with high-quality European fabrics. We mostly choose comfortable, light and soft fabrics that our brides will feel great in, like crepe, satin, chiffon and tulle," he shares, noting the additional use of more structured fabrics such as Mikado, jacquard and taffeta for Marylise. "For Carta Branca we use mainly crepe, chiffon and organza but, of course, these fabrics are always made of silk." 

"Our designs begin in Belgium and come to life in our Portuguese atelier," says Cedric, detailing the collaborative, trend-sensitive approach to bridal. The process always starts with a brainstorming meeting between the sales and creative team, where they analyse the top trends, what brides have loved over the past year, as well as clients’ feedback.  

White Gallery Trends

As the conversation evolves into the bridal fashion trends, Cedric reveals what visitors can expect to see from the label at White Gallery. Marylise will enchant audiences with its sophisticated blend of glamour and minimalism, featuring collections rich in deep-V and off-the-shoulder necklines, open backs, and grandiose gowns with wide, flowing skirts. These designs combine clean lines with intricate lace details, crafting modern, flattering shapes that highlight feminine beauty. 

Rembo Styling will continue to appeal to brides who favour comfort and uniqueness, with its signature collection that includes light, flowy skirts and unique lace designs. This season, Rembo Styling enhances its offerings with sequinned fabrics and minimalist, loose-fitting designs, alongside the iconic middle-connected open back styles. Carta Branca will display its minimalistic yet bold designs, an new style A-line skirts, V-necklines, and asymmetrical cuts that promise movement and a subtly fitted silhouette, perfect for brides seeking simplicity with a sophisticated edge. Cedric also emphasises the importance of customisation in meeting the individual style preferences of each bride, offering options to adjust sleeve lengths and modify necklines, ensuring every gown is as unique as the bride who wears it.

"Our focus at the show," Cedric concludes, " is presenting our new collections and seeing the reactions they bring! We focussed on creating fresh and unique collections and we are excited to share them with you.”