SCOTTISH wedding dress label Flossy and Dossy is inspired by vintage fashion and elegance.
The brand was founded in 2009 by Wendy Harman, who was born and raised in Dumfries.
Harman moved to Glasgow to attend university, where she studied psychology. But her true passion lay elsewhere ... she’d always had a place in her heart for vintage fashion and bridal wear.
She says: “I’m actually a science graduate, but I’ve always been creative. I love knitting, sewing, the mechanics of how clothes are put together. And perhaps this has allowed me to grow Flossy and Dossy organically, bringing together the technical aspects of dressmaking with the personal touch.”
Turning her passion into profit, Harman launched her wedding dress label, teaching herself how to sew along the way.
She credits vintage sewing books dated from the 1930s to the 1950s for teaching her the valuable skills she needed. Harman believes designs were created with greater care during these eras, featuring more attention to detail and hand-finishing techniques which work well for bridal.
Vintage designs still remain at the heart of the brand – she cites classic Hollywood designer Edith Head as a key influence.
Harman began her label working from home, however she quickly outgrew her spare room and opened her studio on the aptly named Harmony Row.
To this day, the brand prides itself on creating a personal experience for each individual bride and her family. To achieve this, everything from pattern drafting and sewing to fittings is completed by Harman.
She explains: “It’s about focusing upon the individual as much as the gown. From discussing and sketching initial ideas through to making mock-ups and then the dress itself, each stage is part of the experience. I think it’s important to get to know each bride – and them me. It all helps to ensure each bride’s personality is an integral part of her dress.”
Harman begins each of her designs with inspiration from fabrics and laces. She purchases material before creating designs to let the fabric guide her, as opposed to letting her designs dictate the fabric.
Where possible, Harman likes to source her materials locally – she has a passion for supporting Scotland’s legacy when it comes to fabric.
Despite being in business for just six years, Flossy and Dossy has become one of Scotland’s leading independent wedding dress labels.
Looking ahead to the future, Harman wants to begin stocking her designs in boutiques around the country to accommodate brides who cannot travel to her Glasgow-based studio.
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