Amy Trinh and Evan Phillips hadn’t planned on specialising in bridalwear when they enrolled at Central Saint Martins, however they quickly realised the huge potential for a fashion-forward label that parts from traditions. Fast forward to 2023 and Wed, their bridalwear label, challenges any preconceived notions of what a wedding dress should look like, by creating de-constructed designs using off-cuts and vintage gowns. It has become a firm favourite for those within the industry who are looking to design a wedding outfit that is the opposite of a princess dress – including Olivia Buxton Smith, the fashion editor of the styling game and shoppable app Drest, who worked with the duo to create a clever multi-use look that she can actually wear again.
“I had zero idea of what I wanted to wear when we first got engaged – all I did know was that I really wanted to look and feel like myself, but fancier,” Olivia explains of how she approached the wedding dress process. “I didn’t end up trying on any dresses, because once I had the idea for a two piece, I was set on it.” She was initially drawn towards the ruching, bows and draping that are integral to Wed’s alternative view of bridal, and she started working on a corset and tutu skirt set for her wedding celebration in Marrakech. The main consideration was that she really didn’t want this to be something that would sit in a cupboard unworn for the next 20 years – she wanted to design pieces that would have a life and purpose beyond her wedding day.