The essence of elegance: Elbeth Gillis tells all
South African designer Elbeth Gillis brings bridal couture to the woman who wants to stand out in the crowd. We find out more about what sparked her passion for bridal and design secrets behind current favourite piece, Waverly.
What was it that sparked your passion for bridal, and how has the Elbeth Gillis brand evolved since then?
My passion for bridal started when I was studying fashion. After my graduation I worked as a children’s wear designer for a few years, but decided to follow my passion in 1997 and started my own business in bridal wear. I started small working from home and grew steadily. I moved to small studio and we expanded from there and now have lovely premises in the Cape Town’s trendy Bree Street area. We started exporting in 2013 and have grown the brand internationally to supply stores in the UK, Germany, Ireland and Australia. For me personally, it is very important to grow our local talent through employing and training mostly women who come from a background where they would not otherwise have an opportunity to study or learn a skill that can provide them with their own income.
What is your brand identity like – who or what influences you?
Our designs are classic, feminine and understated with a modern twist. I take inspiration from the leading couture houses and keep up with trends on social media!
Tell us a little bit about the new collection and the inspiration behind it.
Our latest capsule collection was done especially to launch at White Gallery. It is called Opulent Serenity and is inspired by historical costumes and feature quite a bit of corsetry, dramatic shapes and sculptural silhouettes. The fabrics are brocades, embroidered tulle, luxurious duchess satin and stretch Mikado. Big florals, either woven into the fabrics or 3-D is a trend that is coming through for the next season and our choice of fabrics and embellishments reflect that. We have also introduced new bridal separates featuring a corset bodice that can be paired with different skirt shapes, giving the bride versatility and option to change for the reception without having to buy two dresses.
What is your favourite piece you’ve ever created?
That is difficult and tends to change with each new collection, my current favourite is Waverly. The beautiful cut-out embroidered organza was the inspiration behind this stunning gown. I wanted to keep it light and airy, but add dramatic volume and achieved this by using crinoline in the skirt to keep it slightly transparent to show off the gorgeous exaggerated flower design of the fabric.
Can you tell us one small design secret?
Design what you love and rely on your instincts!
What do you love most about what you do?
I love making patterns and creating new designs, but the most rewarding is when brides contact us after the wedding to share their joy.
If you could dress any celebrity for their wedding day, across any time period, who would it be and why?
Another difficult one for me…I love making brides feel beautiful on their wedding day. Any bride should feel like a celebrity in her dress.
What trends are you seeing the contemporary bride searching for, and how do you aid them in the styling process?
Brides are looking for clean lines, dresses that fit well and enhances their figure. I am always honest with brides as to what styles suits them best. We are all different and it is important keep that mind when choosing the dress, it should enhance the brides figure and reflect her personal style.
In terms of bridal trends: what are some hits and what are some misses?
I am not a fan of terribly revealing dresses, but clean, classic gowns are always a hit.
And finally, what’s your vision for the future of the brand?
We would love to grow our stockists in the UK and also expand the brand to other territories internationally. This said though, it is important for us to keep our commitment to quality, carefully hand-crafting each dress is a joy that we love to share with others.
