FASHION ARTICLE DESIGN
Rania Hatoum World Renowned Wedding Dress Designer
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hile most “twenty-somethings� were still taking university classes, working jobs with hourly wages, and worrying about their uncertain futures, Rania Hatoum was living in New York City, working hands on alongside a renowned designer in the bridal wear industry, planning the fulfillment of her lifelong dream of elevating herself within the world of fashion. At just twentytwo years old, Rania had already released her first lovely collection of handcrafted bridal gowns. She had already taken a dive head first into the complex institution that is international business, and she was already operating out of a bridal boutique of her own in southern Florida.
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orn and raised by two parents very established in the international apparel industry, Rania knew from a young age that this was where she belonged. After witnessing the success of her mother and father and determining that she wanted to chase her dream, she relocated to the United States so that she could attend the International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando, Florida. It was here that she earned a degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising at just 21 years old. From there she left straight for New York to gain hands on experience and began to realize that she was ready to show the world what she had to offer.
Rania found a buyer at 22. “I didn’t expect anyone to pick me up,” she laughed. “Most of the buyers were really surprised at how young I was and the collection I showed. They are making a big decision when they choose to purchase a dress or a collection, so they have to be sure it is what they want.” Even though her expectations were not high, she had poured hundreds of hours of thought and design into her collection, and it showed. Today, seven small and selective bridal boutiques in New York, Rhode Island, Boston, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio carry Rania Hatoum gowns. Almost immediately, Rania’s name began to gain distinction all over the United States. She opened her first independent showroom and began taking custom orders. For the past five years, she has flown to New York City during its Bridal Week and to launch a new collection each April and October. Last December, Rania opened her flagship store in Hong Kong. “Today I’m taking both wholesale and retail business. It keeps me extremely busy, and managing both sides of things can be difficult, but I’m really not complaining. I am doing exactly what I love every day and I’m making a living out of it. I’m extremely happy and extremely lucky. Not a lot of people are fortunate enough to truly love their careers like I do,” she said. Rania’s gowns are timeless and elegant, yet they
combine every good element of modernity and untraditional style. “I’ve done a lot of traveling to many countries. I’ve seen beautiful architecture and I have an appreciation for geometric designs and abstract art. That helps me come up with unique gowns that are tailored to the personal preferences of my brides,” she explained. Rania is also half Chinese and half Egyptian. This cultural diversity proves very valuable as she appeals to a wide array of women with a wide array of needs. “I also like for my gowns to pay the right amount of attention to body consciousness. That means I make sure a bride’s curves are accentuated, and that her dress will flatter her on her special day,” Rania said.
She enjoys the intricacies and details of every gown. Rania described a gown called “Radiance” as one of her all time favorites: “I designed that dress in 2013 to be something completely out of the box. I really did not plan for it to be a highly sought after, selling piece. I thought it might be a magazine feature- kind of something neat and fun. It actually ended up being a best seller.” “Radiance” is a fully beaded, abstract style gown that one might call “1920s Gatsby style” Three years later, it is still a best seller! It has become a sort of “signature classic” among Rania’s collections. It fully embodies the very essence of her best fashions. Luxurious, handpicked fabrics and careful beadwork set apart each design as one of a kind. Every part of the process is completed, directed, or overseen by the designer herself, right down to color selection, fabric manipulation, lace placement, and beading. Rania even does some of her own machine and hand sewing. Full involvement in a project, from start to finish, is what keeps her passionate about her work. In the past, the designer has made an effort to branch out beyond her comfort zone for the sake of fashion. In 2013, a friend established an eco-friendly, organic line of fabric that benefitted the women affected by Taiphoon Haiyan in the Phillipines. The fabric, made from the fibers of pineapple leaves, was a silk-like material that could be effectively utilized in some of Rania’s designs.That line of eco-friendly dresses was shown and sold in various bridal shows
Radiance Sleeveless V-neck geometric white bugle beaded mermaid gown
be effectively utilized in some of Rania’s designs. That line of eco-friendly dresses was shown and sold in various bridal shows and stores. Rania is not afraid to do something out of the ordinary. Her sharp eye for sophistication and uniqueness has served her well. “Every bride wants perfection,” Rania laughed. “The fashion industry is evolving constantly, so each of my customers has very specific requests.” The best part of working in her field? “At my store in Hong Kong, I get to meet my brides face to face every day. I am able to see them try on dresses for the first time- to feel that comfort and that ‘perfect fit.’ I see their happiness reflected in the dresses they will get married in.” Rania explained that brides-to-be can reap a lot of benefit from the knowledge and the experience of a bridal designer. Sometimes retailers are simply trying to complete a sell- they are not as invested in making a bride the happiest she has ever been. “As a designer, it’s important to remember that both you and the dress are an integral part of her daypossibly even of her year,” she said. We asked Rania to identify one character trait that
contributes to her success. She did not have to think much about her answer: “I remain composed in every situation,” she said. “I try not to get overwhelmed when I’m busy, and you’ll never see me fulfilling the stereotype that (some) designers seem to continue- I don’t run around freaking out when something goes wrong. I’ve always been that kind of person, though.” Sometimes Rania and her staff do experience problems with production. For example, fabric could potentially be dyed to an incorrect shade of white or machines might be faulty, but these are problems that can be easily fixed. “We’ve never missed the delivery of a gown and we’re never late. We are honored by and completely committed to the ladies that buy Rania
Hatoum designs, so I make sure they’re 100% happy.” As for Rania’s advice to other up and coming entrepreneurs and lovers of fashion and design, she told us that staying true to the dream is the magic potion. “You’ll get there eventually,” she said. “Even if you fail several times, it will eventually happen. I promise it’s worth the hard work when you see a happy bride walking down the aisle. She will look
picture perfect and she’ll be so proud of her gown. “How do you stay current, and how do you remain a standout each season?” we asked. “I have to listen intently to what my customers want. I am always searching for new fabrics, new lace, and I’m sitting down all the time to lay out patterns and beadwork unlike any other designer’s. I will always strive to set myself apart. While you can’t go ‘overboard’ with designs, you can definitely do something different.” Rania told us that luckily, because her mother and father passed down to her plenty of insight from their own experiences into how the fashion industry operates, she was not in for too many surprises upon her entry into the profession at just 22 years old. “I can’t recall any major adjustments I ever had to make. I just remember being thankful that my mom had me at work with her all the time, showing me how things were done. It was kind of natural that I do what I’m doing now.” Rania considers risking it all as a young person and being assertive in getting her business off the ground her greatest accomplishment. “At that point before I ever went to bridal week or sold a
gown, I was comfortable with not having a job. I was comfortable with going for it and taking that huge risk because I knew it would pay off in the future.” Today Rania is 27 years old. When she isn’t busy designing some of the world’s most beautiful wedding gowns, she is staying healthy and active or cooking for family and friends. Rania released her Spring 2016 line just last month at New York International Bridal Week. While most of her time is spent in Hong Kong meeting brides- to-be and taking their custom orders, the future is bright for Rania Hatoum and her company. So far, she has been featured in Brides Magazine (U.S. and U.K.), Eco-Beautiful Weddings Magazine, Vogue Espana, and Orlando Wedding Magazine, among others. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). Visit www.raniahatoum.com to view some of her gorgeous designs.