Woman as creator: The Vision of Zoe Rowyn Bridal
Danish brand Zoe Rowyn Bridal sees no limit to their inspiration. Their latest collection, founder Corina Culeva tells us, is inspired by and dedicated to the woman as a creator - we speak with her to find out more.
How did your journey into bridal design begin?
I started Zoe Rowyn in 2019. I was getting ready for my own wedding, and I had troubles finding THE dress. There were really few minimalistic brands on the market, and the ones that I liked were way over my budget - so I designed my own wedding dress! But in the process, I realised that I have many more ideas. With some previous experience in fashion and an education in business, I embarked on this journey and built the product I would have bought myself, had it been there when I needed it.
What is your creative process like?
Inspiration can come from literally anything. Nature, museums, movies, people. It usually starts very small - I draw one dress, and then my imagination just takes me to different places and the creative process starts to flow. I don’t think I can ever point to one source of inspiration! But each collection reflects where I am in life and what I feel at the moment of its creation. I feel so blessed that I have the chance to express myself in this way, but I also have a very technical approach to inspiration in general. I know my job is to be inspired and I just create contexts that help me. I have yearly passes to my favourite art museums. I try to book a short trip every 1-2 months, and I go there with the sole purpose of gathering inspiration. So even when I run out of inspiration, I always have the means to bring it back.
What do you consider to be signature design elements of the brand?
The unique fusion between modern and retro, the elaborate details contrasting with rather simple pieces. We also use almost exclusively silk fabrics.
What would you say is the biggest secret to the success of your brand?
I started this business without having a design background, which may seem a disadvantage. But now I know, that it was in fact my biggest advantage, because I was not constrained by rules and therefore there are no limits to my creativity. On the other hand, I also think that we were born just at the right time. The market was naturally moving in the direction of our style, and we happened to be there when this shift happened.
What inspired the current collection?
This collection was created while I was living the initiation into the most transformative experience of my life: motherhood. It is inspired by and dedicated to the woman as a creator. It is a mini collection of very different pieces that create a full picture, just like all the feelings and experiences that we as mothers live: varied, different, contradictory at times, but all so full of love.
If you had to choose one piece that really highlights the vision of the collection, which would it be?
The Nora gown - Winding around the body in a spiral curly detailing, Nora is designed to enhance feminine curves and create an elongated silhouette. Intricately placed delicate details, with an asymmetric cowl neck, and an asymmetric V-back - crafted for an exquisite, one-of-a-kind bridal look.
What kind of brides do you envisage wearing your pieces?
She is definitely modern and fashion forward, but also very self sufficient, and seeks an effortless, chic look. She lives in the moment.
What’s next for the brand?
We have just opened our flagship store in Copenhagen, Denmark, so we are currently focusing on fostering this project. But from a creative point of view, I would like to focus on rather personal collaborations, where we develop a bespoke design for a specific bride.
We are in an unprecedented growth phase, and many smaller or bigger projects are happening inside the company at the same time. To wrap it in one statement: we are getting braver every day.
