Who designed Isha Ambani and Deepika Padukone’s wedding dresses? How Asian bridal couture is taking the world by storm
- The bridal industry is worth US$130 billion in China and US$50 billion in India; now brides are turning to Asian designers for something new
- Bollywood’s Priyanka Chopra, Hong Kong celebrity Sammi Cheng and British singer Jessie J are just a few famous names looking for unique gowns
Weddings are big business in Asia. In China, the industry is estimated to be worth US$130 billion and in India, US$50 billion.
With so much money flowing in, attention has shifted towards Asian bridal designers, especially as customers look to veer away from typical run-of-the-mill white wedding gowns by international brands. These Asian talents are creating unique wedding dresses that preserve the beauty of the moment.
“When I was 12, I already started making princess dresses with paper and random clothes for my younger sisters,” reminisces Hong Kong-based designer Kev Yiu, giving an insight into what steered his path toward bridal design. “Having little sisters to model my paper dresses and mini fashion shows at home are some of my fondest childhood memories.”
Having trained with Juliet Hamilton, designer for Cyndi Lauper, Yiu created his brand Sovereign Romance in 2006. The label was renamed Kev Yiu in 2013 and has been a hot ticket ever since, having dressed celebrities like Sammi Cheng, Fan Bingbing, Joey Yung, Janice Man and Jessie J.
The most important [thing] … is creating a dress that matches the personality of your customer
Yiu recently took on the mantle of chief creative and design director for Sennet Frères, a 150-year-old heritage brand that is making a comeback after a 70-year hiatus. The wedding couture label offers bespoke services at its bridal salon in Central, Hong Kong.
Yiu has injected his sense of romance into the brand with luxurious white wedding gowns with plunging necklines and puffy scarlet red dresses with detailed embellishments and a chic use of ruffles. The construction of the dresses is immaculate and speaks to Yiu’s European aesthetics and awareness of the needs of his customers.
“The most important [thing] I always say is creating a dress that matches the personality of your customer,” he said. “I would never force my subjectivity onto something that will become someone’s lifetime memory. My advice to customers is usually not to limit themselves to stereotypes; they should embrace their individuality.”
