Up Close With Frida Hoffman-Clark
With years of experience in the luxury sector behind her, Frida Hoffman-Clark set out on her own adventure to blend Parisian craftsmanship with an edgy British attitude through her own brand Kladek. Discover her top pearls of wisdom and how she designed the look for her own special day right here.
Kladek is a contemporary bridal wear brand based between Paris and London, with collections that focus on luxurious separates and gowns tailored for the understated modern bride.
They are currently working on their second collection, which is centred around the concept of a versatile bridal wardrobe that covers various bridal occasions, including rehearsal dinners, the wedding and civil ceremony, as well as the reception party. They’re also introducing some new separates, tailored pieces and a range of minimal gowns with a few surprises.
We spoke with Frida Hoffman-Clark to find out more.
You worked within the luxury and haute couture sector for companies such as Hermès and Viktor & Rolf. What pearls of wisdom did you learn whilst there?
Build a wardrobe that is practical and comfortable so you can work long hours behind-the-scenes, yet you look always refined and elegant enough to represent the brand at any given moment. Another point would be to learn the rulebook, before breaking it. Do the research, be curious, ask the questions and - spend as much time as possible in the ateliers.
Do you remember your own first ever fashion purchase? What was it?
One of my first and most fond memories related to a new fashion purchase was going to my grandma’s apartment to select styles from a sewing magazine called Burda. She would let us select pieces and then she would make really lovely clothes for my sister and myself. I loved being around her and watching her. I never forget how fashionable I felt wearing her garments, because I knew that my pieces were unique.
Can you tell us more about your own bridal gown, and any design secrets behind it? What elements did the dress include, and what were you most inspired by?
Initially, I didn’t have a specific style in mind, but I knew exactly how I wanted to feel: confident, comfortable and at ease, so I could dance and eat all night. My goal was to look like an elevated version of myself and staying true to my personal minimal aesthetic.
Having previously made my sister’s wedding dress and with my grandma having made my mum’s, I wanted to continue the tradition of creating a modern heirloom that would connect to my family’s narrative and story. My inspiration for the overall look came from my mum’s dress. I opted for a jumpsuit with wide-leg trousers cut in a beautiful ivory coloured crêpe that had an inbuilt corset, which you couldn’t see from the outside. The airy off-shoulder sleeves, the bodice and the detachable skirt were cut from an embroidered dégradé tulle, drawing inspiration from the dotted tulle my mum used for her own dress.
Do you have any memorable or heartwarming stories about a bride’s reaction to wearing a Kladek dress?
As a thank you, one of my bespoke clients for whom I made two gowns for, invited my husband and myself to her beautiful wedding in the French countryside. During the reception party I saw her dancing in the dress that I had made for her, a long double silk crêpe gown with silk lining. She was so comfortable, so effortless and fully immersed in the moment, as if she had forgotten that she is wearing a wedding dress - that moment was everything.
Can you tell us about any sustainable practices you incorporate into your designs/how important is sustainability during the creation process?
For us, sustainability means being consequential in our decisions, being respectful and being transparent. With my background in creative pattern cutting and design, I put a strong emphasise on how we define new style lines on silhouettes, because fabric usage can strongly be reduced when patterns are optimised. We deeply care about craftsmanship and invest in building close relationships with all of our collaborators and suppliers to keep our supply chains short. For us, sustainability is linked to better ourselves with each decision we make, by constantly asking ourselves what the consequences of each action could be and should look like.
Paris and London are the pinnacles of fashion. What trends are you seeing emerging?
I would say more and more brides are opting for modular looks over here, whether by wearing gowns with
detachable elements or adding separate pieces onto their gowns, such as a jacket or a blouse, which they can take off after the ceremony. I would like Kladek to be known for its versatile mix-and-match alternatives rooted in craftsmanship and quality, as Kladek stands for refined simplicity for the understated modern bride.
What’s on the horizon for yourself and for Kladek?
We have some exciting new projects and collaborations in the pipeline for next year and some lovely bespoke brides - can’t wait to share more!
