Inside the Boutique: Emma Hunt London

Written by: louise

In this month's 'Inside the Boutique' we're stepping inside the gorgeously calm and serene London showroom of Emma Hunt. A luxury wedding brand run by owner and designer Emma Shard, based in green and leafy Wimbledon. Emma Hunt is one of our favourite wedding brands - not just because Emma's dresses are simply beautiful, timeless and elegant with a contemporary twist, but the team behind the dresses are simply some of the friendliest people we've had the pleasure to work with.

A few weeks ago Maxeen and I popped in to Emma's showroom for a cup of tea and a natter, and to take a closer look at some of the exquisite couture dresses from Emma's London Collection. Each gown is designed by Emma and made by hand in their London studio, overseen by Emma herself. Each is a beautiful creation made especially for the bride, meaning additional detailing, embellishment or changes in design can be added to make your dress totally unique. A visit to Emma is more than just finding the perfect dress; it's a wonderful, personal experience that provides something other boutiques often miss. Not only does Emma truly care about the brides she dresses, but she makes sure they know it by providing a unique, and special experience.

I graduated with a BA degree in Fashion and then, after several years making clothes for friends and family as a hobby, I decided to start my own business. A small collection of wedding dress designs later, and the Emma Hunt label was born.I was keen to settle in the Wimbledon area as it's such a great location - it's got a lovely village feel and is well connected for my clients. As for the space - I loved it the minute we viewed it as it has beautiful light and exquisite original period features. Our showroom has been called "an oasis of calm", which I know clients appreciate amidst the chaos of wedding planning. At Emma Hunt, our signature style is timelessly elegant dresses in luxurious fabrics that are made for the discerning bride who appreciates quality and craftsmanship. Elegance and simplicity, classic with a twist. We focus on discreet structuring and wonderful detailing, such as hand beading and precisely placed lace, for effortlessly beautiful frocks. I am proud to say that all of our dresses are made by hand in Britain. A vital part of our couture service is the really personal attention I give to individual clients who visit us in Wimbledon. I understand that this is their big day and, probably, the biggest investment they'll make on a dress in their lifetime. It should be extra special and they deserve to know that it has been made with love and care. I am forever inspired by the masters of couture such as Dior, Valentino, and Chanel and their use of classic techniques and embellishments. I am blown away by what Raf Simons has done since becoming artistic director at Dior - his designs encapsulate the wonderfully feminine shapes that the couture house's New Look was all about, but in a contemporary and effortless way. I work with only natural fibres and the best quality of fabrics. It's so important to me that my dresses feel as wonderful to wear as they look. I love soft and luxurious fabrics such as slipper satins and silk crepes, with embroidered organza and the prettiest of French and English laces for overlays. I also insist on pure silk linings in all of my dresses, which is quite rare in bridalwear. I am passionate about giving a personal service, and give each and every client my undivided attention. I also have over 10 years experience in running the business on my own, so I have a knowledge of the production side that a lot of sales advisors wouldn't. This means I understand the construction of a garment and can give really honest feedback to work together with my clients to design something that is both beautiful and achievable. We have also very carefully selected the boutiques that stock our Echo diffusion collection to be sure that they also offer a wonderful service. Although girls buying our Echo dresses won't come to the Wimbledon showroom, I make sure to oversee each dress being made in our studio, so that Echo clients across the country can be assured their dress has been made with the same love and attention as our in-house couture collection. Emma's advice to the bride "Try lots of things and keep an open mind, but it's important to be true to your normal style as ultimately you'll be most comfortable in something that makes you feel like yourself, just a very special version of you! I can offer my expertise on the right tone and weight of fabric to suit your frame and colouring - little things that are sometimes overlooked but can be the difference between simply wearing a beautiful dress, and you looking your most radiant, gorgeous best in a dress that works for your unique characteristics"

This summer we are launching a very exciting campaign to launch our new Little Black Dress collection. I have specially designed this capsule collection for women who want a hand-crafted dress that will make them feel extra special on all sorts of occasions, not just on their wedding day.

An extension of the couture techniques I use in my bridal collections, the Little Black Dress collection will also be crafted from wonderfully luxurious fabrics and are all hand made in my Wimbledon studio. Watch this space for more news .... #MadeInBritain Discover more about Emma Hunt at www.emmahunt.co.uk. To book an appointment email [email protected] or call 020 8879 7871

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Categories: supplier spotlight · Tags: dress shopping, emma hunt, inside the boutique, maxeen kim, wedding boutique, wedding dress