Our Story
Chandrika has been designing wedding dresses for individual brides for over twenty years. She loves the stories the brides share with her. The love stories. Where couples met. How he proposed. The theme for their special day. Every bride comes with her own unique love story and to be a part of their dream day is an honour and a privilege. Many brides keep in touch with Chandrika after their big day, telling her about the honeymoon, their children, families and careers. Chandrika’s move into designing ready-to-wear collections of day-wear, occasional wear, special attire and evening-wear means that she is now able to design clothes for the women who have become part of her life. Chandrika says, “I believe that every women has a unique personality. Just as each bride’s wedding day is unique to her, my new collection allows women to experience the touch of magic and individuality.”
The dream of designing dresses for beautiful women started at the age of seven. Family holidays often took her to India and Africa where tailors were commissioned to interpret her designs. However, she was never happy with the fit and look of the garments they created. So Chandrika decided from a young age that she would acquire the dress making skills needed to make well cut, tailored, high quality, fashionable designs with a high degree of finishing.
Chandrika first acquired her skills by visiting markets such as Portobello and Camden Town in London and French and Italian flea-markets where she would buy vintage clothes, take them home, carefully and meticulously take them apart, noting how they had been put together and then reassembling them herself. Having discovered the secrets of how seamstresses had created these beautiful garments she was able to apply them to the making of her own designs. However, the cutting of the cloth is as important as the work of highly skilled seamstresses. Realising this, Chandrika went to fashion college to learn about textiles, pattern cutting, sewing and design. She excelled in pattern cutting. Tutors were impressed by her hard work and commitment and the intricacies of her pattern cutting and designs.
Armed with the skills of pattern cutting and design, and with the knowledge of how high quality garments are put together Chandrika was able to produce her first beautiful collection. This collection was marketed using a grant from the Prince’s Trust. The Prince’s Trust still has a special place in her heart and Chandrika believes that they do a outstanding job in helping young people realise their dreams and potential.
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