Kate Rosamond is a breathe of fresh air in the bridal industry. Making her brides feel special, no matter what shape or size they are, is at the top of her to do list.
The only regret she has? Not starting sooner. Here, we spent some time with Kate to find out more about her life as a bridal designer, what motivates her and so much…
Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching your brand, Kate Rosamond Bridal …
Kate Rosamond Bridal has been a dream of mine for over a decade but I never found the time or guts to try and get it off the ground. When I got engaged in the Autumn of 2020, I knew I wanted to create my own dress. My friend was getting married around the same time as me and she asked me to create her dress as well.
After a summer of making 2 bridal gowns, I knew there was no looking back and it was time to pursue my dream of making the business a reality.
You design dresses for every shape, every style and every bride. Why was this important to you?
As I am a curvy woman myself, I know how difficult it can be to find even normal clothes that fit your body well, let alone a bridal gown. I make bespoke gowns for people of any size and shape because a once in a lifetime garment like this should be cut, fit and moulded to your figure in an expert way. No one should be excluded from feeling like the best version of themselves on the most important day of their lives, so we make that our priority when designing and creating each gown.
Being involved in someone else’s wedding is a real honour. What has been your favourite moment since launching the brand?
I have been lucky enough to attend 3 weddings of the women whose dresses I have created. Watching them all walk down the aisle and seeing people gasp and gush over how beautiful they look is a real honour. It is an incredible feeling to know that I played a small part in making someone’s wedding day the best day of their lives and creating a dress they may have been dreaming of since they were a child.
How do you want people to feel when they wear your dresses?
I want people to feel like they are about to embark on the best day of their lives feeling exactly as they imagined they would; happy, confident and beautiful.
Comfort is also key on your wedding day, so we try to make sure we choose fabrics and structures that give people their desired shape without them feeling like they’re suffering because of it!
Who is your dream customer?
I love a bride who has a strong idea about what she wants from a dress but is open to the process of development that comes with designing a bespoke gown. One of my favourite things as a designer is when a customer thinks they just need ‘a white dress that fits’ but at the end of the process, they come away with a dress they never could have dreamed would make them feel so amazing. When a bride trusts me and trusts the process, that’s when the real magic happens!
Who’s involved in the business and what are their roles?
When it comes to all things Kate Rosamond Bridal, it is me, myself and I ! I am the designer, pattern cutter, maker, fitter & alterations seamstress. When you choose to get a gown made by me, you know that the entire process is with me from start to finish and that is a rare and important thing. It means I know your personality, your figure, your design ideas and the whole journey is just the two of us, creating your dress together. I must also shout out to my gorgeous husband who is a graphic design wizz and helps with the social media side of the business that I am slowly getting off the ground!
What advice would you offer anyone who wants to launch a bridal brand?
It is a scary process, getting people to trust you with the most important garment of their lives is not an easy feat. However, I finally got to the stage where I knew risks needed to be taken if I was to pursue my dream and immersing myself in the world of bridal,spending any free time I had designing, making and practicing my skills has been essential. I am on the cusp of launching my debut made to measure collection and that has been a process of love and determination over the past year. I would advise anyone who is thinking of doing the same to make sure you have a plan in place, great friends who will trust you in the beginning to help build your profile and be personable and listen to your brides and try to understand their vision. It can be a therapeutic process for some women and it is important to have the skills that build up their self esteem and confidence. Never try to change a bride to fit a dress – the dress is made to fit the bride!
If you hadn’t pursued this career, what do you think you would be doing now?
I studied a degree in Fashion Design at University and worked for the fashion house, Jenny Packham, when I graduated. From there I did a Master’s Degree in Costume Design at the London College of Fashion and this is where I built my career for the past 7 years. I have been a costume maker on various film, television and theatre productions. I loved this job, so I am sure I would still be working my way up that ladder had I not decided to take a step back from costume and pursue my ultimate dream of wedding dress design.
Another career I have always thought of pursuing is therapy- perhaps creating people’s wedding dresses is an amalgamation of the two, as the entire process is about making people see themselves in the best light they can!
What do you do when you lack motivation and inspiration?
I allow myself the time to step back, remove myself from the situation and take a breather. When building a business it is too easy to tell yourself you must eat, sleep and breathe the business and be working on it 24/7 in order to succeed. But I find the only way I can truly succeed is by working until I need the mental rest, and then allowing myself that time to regenerate my passion and motivation.
Walking my dog after a long day in the studio is essential for me to mentally take a break and leave any stresses and worries in the work place, so that when I come home I can unwind and recharge.
Looking back since you started, is there anything that you would do differently?
I think I would have taken the plunge sooner. Had I realised this was the path I knew I would eventually want to take, I would have spent the lockdowns developing my collection and using that time thoughtfully to work on the business. I am not a big risk taker – the thought of having to stop my costume jobs in order to dedicate the time and focus on launching this business was scary – so perhaps allowing myself to take the risk is something I could have done sooner. However, I am a big believer in no regrets and everything happens for a reason and I am precisely where I need to be in the business and in life right now!
Talk us through an average day in your life…
I wake up, walk our gorgeous cockapoo, Jasper, and then I make the short 10 second commute to my garden bridal studio. I answer email enquiries, take any zoom consultations I have booked in, update my social media and website and then get to creating. If I have a bespoke bridal gown on the go, it involves creating the pattern for the gown, making a mock up, choosing fabrics, creating the final gown, embellishments, hand finishings and final fittings. Now that the bridal season is winding down, however, I am going full throttle at finishing my debut collection. That currently means sketching, sketching and more sketching. Once I am happy with how a dress looks on paper it is time to start drafting it on the stand.
My day is made up of admin, designing and creating and it is the perfect balance of all the things I love!
What is your go-to quote when you want a pick me up?
‘You are what you believe yourself to be’ – Paul Coelho
Our readers love to travel, what destination is on your must visit list?
New Zealand is somewhere I have been dreaming of. We wanted to go for our honeymoon but it was closed due to Covid. The countryside and landscape, the people, the food, the wine and the adventures would be amazing. However, our next destination will hopefully be Tuscany. My husband and I went together when we first met and have been dreaming of going back. Anywhere that has ample wine tasting is the perfect holiday for us!
What’s your 5 year vision for the brand?
I would love to be in a position where my roster is full of bespoke brides and a few hand picked boutiques are carrying my collections. Within 5 years I intend to open my own shop front boutique so that I have a dedicated place for people to come and immerse themselves in Kate Rosamond Bridal, and my fitting studio and workroom are all under one roof that is a destination bridal sanctuary.
What does self care mean to you?
I am starting to learn that saying no is a huge form of self care for me. Saying no to what other people need from me and saying yes to my needs is the best lesson I have learned this year and the key to true self happiness.
On a day to day basis my versions of self care are cooking in the kitchen with my husband, with the music blasting and a glass of wine in hand. Then I love nothing more than curling up at the end of the long day for a good episode of something in front of the fire, after a wintery dog walk. Reading a trashy novel in bed before a long, deep sleep and waking up feeling refreshed is the best feeling there is!
Where can people find out more?
My work can be seen on my website www.katerosamondbridal.com and on Instagram @katerosamondbridal
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