Strike a Pose INSIDE BRIDAL FA SHION WITH DESIGNER MARIA KOROVIL AS
H OW D I D YO U G E T S TA R T E D IN THE BRIDAL FA SHION INDUSTRY?
I had a ready-to-wear collection, Korovilas, from 2010 to about 2018. The brand focused on dresses, incorporating artisanal and novelty techniques into casual and event looks, but customers also came to us for special occasions. We didn’t want to cloud the original concept, so we started a new bridal and event spinoff. FASHION & BE AUT Y
BHLDN had been buying from the line before that second collection started, but the new focus further fostered our relationship. Now, I work with BHLDN to create the same kinds of artisanal novelties for their own-brand collection. I love the latest collection with BHLDN. W H AT WA S T H E I N S P I R AT I O N B E H I N D B H L D N B LU E L A B E L?
This latest collection started as a series of vignettes inspired by different facets of the Regency period. We looked at writers, popular colors, artwork motifs in linens, antique fabrications we love today, and even wallpaper. I broke that inspiration down through various lenses, then put it back together to capture versions that would suit the many sides of our customer. That overarching concept shaped a very cohesive collection. I love bridging the gap from ready-to-wear to the bridal market MARIA KOROVIL AS Maria Korovilas is a fashion and textile designer and a brand creative visionary. After receiving her MFA in fashion and textile design, she launched her dress-focused collection, k o r o v i l a s, which was sold at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom Via C, Anthropologie, Free People, BHLDN, and independent boutiques. She now lives in Atlanta, creating capsule collections for BHLDN and maintaining a professorship at SCAD, Atlanta.
and looking at bridal style through the lens of the fashion customer. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE S T Y L E O F B H L D N B LU E L A B E L?
It leans very feminine and romantic—that’s my innate DNA as a designer. While that is my instinct, I also love a modern, clean moment, especially how it’s happening now in terms of volume, volume, volume! I’d say the style overall is novelty, artisanal, fashion shapes you
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