About me
Hiya, I'm Emma, bridal accessory designer and founder of Claude Bridal Studio. In my home studio in Whitstable, Kent, I design and make hand crafted, embellished bridal accessories and sequin flower crowns, with hand-embroidery detail at the heart of what I do.
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After graduating from university with a degree in fashion and knitted textiles, I spent fifteen happy years working as an Assistant Costume Designer for film and T.V. When our daughter Sylvia was born, we decided to leave London and move to the coast for new adventures, it was in Whitstable that our son George soon came on the scene. During lockdown I got the opportunity to start work on bringing to life the business that I had dreamt about since I was young, designing and making beautiful accessories for people to wear at their wedding.
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I absolutely LOVE using sequins and beads to create beautiful and interesting fabrics - embellishment is my great love. I also love vintage fashion, in particular women's wear from 1900 to 1960 especially evening wear, just cant get enough. I adore immersing myself in images of couture and costume from these periods, preferably whilst watching a Marilyn or Audrey Hepburn film and drinking a cup of tea. I'm really inspired by the work of Wes Anderson, Tim Walker and Cathleen Norndorf. I find their work so exciting, magical and dreamlike, somewhere between playfulness and elegance, costume and editorial fashion. I hope I bring a little of that to my work.
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So, what about the name Claude? Well here is the story....
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Not long after we were married in 2015, my husband Oliver, bought a characterful old Renault Estafette which used to belong to a painter and decorator in France. We loved this funny little van and named him Claude. Ollie converted Claude into a beautiful street food van and we spent an amazing time travelling to markets and festivals, Ollie cooking delicious South Indian vegetarian street food and me helping in between costume work. It was on one such occasion that I took off my wedding ring to help prep some food and in front of my very eyes, it slowly rolled towards a tiny gap between the kitchen and the metal of the van itself where it disappeared never to be seen again. Oooooohh dear!!....When Sylvia was born, Ollie made the decision to change his job and some time soon Claude will ride again in new hands, but, wherever he travels to next, my wedding ring will go with him and that leaves me with a warm glow...
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Tonnes of love
Emma xxx