Every bride wants to look special on her wedding day! Adding a unique accessory is the best way to add a little pizazz to your bridal look. Anna Mains, a Brooklyn based designer, specializes in bridal accessories with a wow factor! Gone are the days of the boring bridal veil. Anna's collection of gorgeous pieces incorporates modern and vintage materials to create a look that is uniquely you. We got a chance to catch up with the young designer at the Wed Altered Event in NYC last month. Check out our interview with the talented Anna Mains of Anna Mains Designs.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in the bridal accessory industry?
I’ve been designing since I was seven. I dreamed about what my best friend and I would wear to Prom and the next day I drew up a sketch. That was the beginning of my career as a designer. I moved to New York and worked as a costume designer and in the fashion industry, but I always felt this pull toward bridal wear. I love weddings! They bring people together and there is always a story behind them.
A couple years ago one of my friends got married. Her ceremony was in an historic Catholic chapel, and she had a traditional gown and veil, but she wanted something glitzy for the reception. I made her a rhinestone-encrusted headpiece with Shocking Pink ostrich feathers and bright pink tulle. It was so fun to create something that reflected her bright and boisterous personality. She was thrilled! Not every bride has the budget for a custom-made gown, but every bride can have a custom-made, one-of-a-kind headpiece or veil.
2. How would you describe your hairpieces?
My work is vintage-inspired with a modern aesthetic.
3. What makes your bridal accessories different from others on the market?
It’s really the custom work that makes the difference. Each piece is inspired by the bride herself and I always try to incorporate family heirlooms when possible. This creates a piece that is unique to each bride. It reflects her individual style, and it cherishes her family history.
4. What materials do you use?
I use vintage beads, rhinestones, silks, leather, netting, and tulle. I incorporate heirloom pieces whenever possible.
5. What is the inspiration behind your designs?
I’m often inspired by organic material. Last year, I was walking in Prospect Park near my home in Brooklyn. I saw these gorgeous papery seed pods on the ground and thought how pretty they would be as part of a headpiece. For the next few months, I was obsessed with making similar pods out of delicate organza and silk tulle, using pearls and beads to emulate the seeds.
6. What is the price range for your products?
Not every bride can have a custom-designed dress, but every bride can have a custom headpiece. I try to accommodate every budget; I have several pieces that start under $100.
7. Can you do custom pieces?
Yes, I specialize in custom pieces! I am especially delighted when a bride chooses to wear a family heirloom as part of her bridal trousseau. I love to incorporate family memories into a custom headpiece, it cherishes the past and the present.
8. What is your favorite part about what you do?
It’s so hard to play favorites. I love so many parts! What I find especially rewarding is when I’m doing a custom piece and the bride and I are bouncing ideas off each other. I love the energy and the excitement that is created when we both realize that we’ve landed on an idea that’s a keeper.
Check out this awesome blue feather fascinator by Anna Mains Designs that I wore at The Bridal Brunch NYC, which was perfect for the Harlem Renaissance theme!
Are you looking for unique wedding accessories to wear on your wedding day? Check out more great pieces by Anna Mains Designs on her Etsy page here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/annamainsdesigns
