Brides by design

With cooler weather reigning during the winter months, November through February |are the most popular months |for couples to exchange their vows. 

Nhoo Matthews, a Thai fashion designer who specialises in bridal and eveningwear, is well aware of this trend and recently hosted her debut fashion showcase of her bridal collection, “The Beginning” at Grande Sukhumvit Hotel. 

Nhoo studied fashion design and haute couture dress-making techniques at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and after graduating earned experience by working with a number of top fashion houses including Zac Posen and Marchesa. 

Inspired by the quality at these haute couture ateliers, she decided to establish a private, high-rise studio – Nhoo Matthews Atelier – in May last year on the 21st floor of the Trendy Building on Sukhumvit Soi 13, where she works with clients one-on-one. 

Nhoo not only designs the dresses herself but also makes them with the help of her in-house staff and in close consultation with her clients, using her skills in draping, lace embroidering, and hand-sewing to produce luxurious and delicate gowns. She works with each client individually in the same way as the great French designers of the past. 

“We believe that the dress should complement the woman who wears it. Our aesthetic is ‘Feminine, Elegant and Timeless’,” she explains. Much |of her inspiration is drawn from the classic Hollywood glamour of the ’20’s through the ’50, which she combines with her love of romantic and delicate materials. 

Nhoo Matthews Atelier quickly caught the eyes of celebrities and actresses, among them Khemanit “Pancake” Jamikorn, Sririta Jensen, Saraichatt Kunjara Jirapaet, which has added to its exclusive cachet.

Sometimes Nhoo will sketch out modifications of an existing design or even design an entirely new dress to meet the client’s preferences. She will then work with her seamstress to take the client’s measurements from which she will make the first, temporary version of the dress using muslin fabric. When the muslin dress is ready the client returns to the studio for a careful fitting. 

Alterations will be made to the muslin dress as necessary to ensure a superior fit. The muslin dress is then disassembled and its pieces used as templates for cutting the fabric for the final dress. When the final dress has been assembled, the client returns for another fitting and the final adjustments. Although this haute couture method of design and fitting is very demanding both in terms of time and workmanship, it represents the highest standard of French dressmaking.

“The Beginning” collection has 12 looks ranging from elegant and classic to modern and alluring. The bridal gowns look refined with lace and chiffon creating softness and lightness while exquisite details such as handicraft embroidery with Swarovski crystals adding a fairy-tale aura.

For her models, Nhoo was delighted to welcome Waraorn Dussarak and Ekaphan Harnkarnsucharit, who are soon to be married, adding a romantic and special feeling to the fashion show.