Whether or not you are a royal fan, the royal wedding certainly brought the community together to celebrate Britain’s biggest royal wedding in 30 years of Catherine Elizabeth, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William Duke of Cambridge. The couple looked amazing as they leave Westminster Abbey, the ceremony brought tears to my eyes and the bride and bride’s maid dresses put a wide smile on my face. I hope you have all enjoyed watching the event, share your favourite moments here and let us know what you think about Catherine’s dress.

The long awaited wedding dress worn by Kate Middleton was designed by Sarah Burton the creative Directive of Alexander McQueen. The Flowing white gown with a full skirt, long train and a v-neckline softened by lace on both sides. The lace continues down her arms to form long sleeves, everything about the gown was elegant.

As we admire the beautiful gown worn by Catherine Middleton and her sister Pippa Middleton, Shadders takes a step back to highlight some of Africa’s Bridal gown designers.

AMSALE ABERRA

Amsale Aberra’s career as a couture bridal and eveningwear designer happened by necessity. While planning her 1985 nuptials to film executive Neil Brown, Amsale scoured the stores to find a simple, refined wedding dress. She found little in the way of clean, sophisticated gowns, and discovered an untapped niche in the bridal market—elegant and understated dresses.

“Everything was so overdone and with too much ornamentation,” says Amsale, who was sure that her taste in gowns was shared by many other brides-to-be. Amsale placed a classified advertisement for custom-made gowns for other brides-to-be who shared her taste in sophisticated, understated designs. And so, with a few responses, a sketchpad full of designs, and a small team of couture sewers, Amsale started her business out of her New York City loft apartment.

Since then, the name AMSALE (pronounced Ahm-sah’-leh) has become synonymous with the “forever modern” wedding dress. Her collections are designed for brides who desire a fashionable, sophisticated and timeless look. Amsale believes: “Twenty years after the wedding, I want a bride to be able to look at her pictures and be as happy with the way she looked as she was on her wedding day.”

Amsale’s love of fashion began as a young girl growing up in Ethiopia. However, Amsale never considered becoming a designer: “In Ethiopia there were no fashion designers. I never knew that designing beautiful clothes was a profession to which one could aspire.”

Amsale convinced her parents to allow her to leave Ethiopia in order to study commercial art in New England. While in school a revolution broke out in her native country, which forced Amsale to stay in the United States to support herself and complete her undergraduate education at University of Massachusetts - Boston through a number of odd-jobs. With limited financial resources, Amsale admits “I would design and sew my own clothes because I couldn’t afford to buy new things. That’s when I first thought of becoming a fashion designer.”

Website: http://www.amsale.com/

YEMI KOSIBAH

Yemi Osunkoya is the award winning designer behind the Kosibah label. Yemi established the Kosibah brand in London in 1991 and named the company in honour of his mother.  The name Cosiba comes from the Republic of Benin and is the day name of a female child born on a Sunday. Celebrated clients include Louise Rose, leading actress of Universal film Life & Lyrics, Alesha Harvey, Sheila Ferguson formerly of the Three Degrees, Hollywood actress Indra Ové, Miss World Agbani Darego, and singer Stephanie Benson.  Kosibah’s clientele is truly worldwide, although particularly well represented in the UK, Nigeria and USA.

Kosibah specialises in contemporary and elegant couture bridal, evening and formal day wear using luxurious fabrics and sumptuous embellishments.  Yemi’s signature use of corsetry and boned bodices cleverly recreates the classical and elegant hourglass figure, producing gowns that curve, shape and flatter the wearer. All gowns are made to measure and made to order.

Image Credit: Kosibah

ELEANOR OFORI OF LONDON

Based in Chelsea, London, Eleanor Ofori offers a unique bespoke bridal and evening wear service to the sophisticated modern woman. Over year’s experience, each gown is designed to showcase the bride and enhance her own personal style and beauty through elegant cuts and sensual fabrics.

Eleanor has developed the ability to explore the requests, tastes and dreams of every bride who steps through her door. Her desire to create a relationship of confidence and trust allows Eleanor to create unique and tailored gowns, which not only respond to the bride’s wishes but also flatter the shape of the modern woman. There are no constraints, only impeccable taste and beautiful concepts that celebrate the unique perspective of every bride. With soft, shapely silhouettes that follow natural body curves, Eleanor’s designs focus on understated elegance and intrinsically detailed touches. Her designs are renowned for highlighting divine cuts and decadent fabrics, which are synonymous with her brand.

Eleanor Ofori of London
Studio 31, Townmead Business Centre
William Morris Way
Fulham
London SW6 2SZ
UK
Tel : 020 7349 8576
Website : http://www.eleanorofori.co.uk/

ROSENWERTH

One of the most acclaimed names in the South African and international fashion world, Rosenwerth is synonymous with style, glamour and elegance and provides beautiful women with breathtaking wedding and ball gowns, everyday ready-to-wear garments made with signature characteristics of soft, feminine lines and exceptional attention to detail, fit and finish, as well as couture for all other special occasions. Having been awarded numerous coveted accolades including the J&B Rare Designer Award, Rosenwerth remains at the forefront of today’s trends, and continues to wow with incredible design offerings

Website:http://www.rosenwerth.co.za/

Image Credit: Rosenwerth

ANGELA LAMBROU

Angelo Lambrou is an artist in the old world skills of haute couture. As a designer of wedding gowns and eveningwear, originality is the key word in his design vocabulary. Lambrou was raised in both South Africa and Cyprus and attended design school in London, giving him an incredible backdrop for inspiration. His gowns convey a modern sophistication that is truly unique and beautiful.

With a goal to move forward with concepts for the 21st Century, Lambrou is inspired by Valentino, the icon of couture design so wonderfully memorialized in the film, “Valentino: The Last Emperor.” He says, “Valentino is one of those designers who really leave a mark behind. He just understands how to flatter a woman. He’s been doing it for so long.”

Prices range from $3,500-$6,500.

www.angelolambrou.com

Website: http://www.angelolambrou.com/