Happy Birthday Anna Campbell
On the Eve of celebrating the 17th year of our iconic bridal brand, we sat down with the Anna, Creative Director, founder, and designer to reminisce about her incredible journey.
We chatted about some of the most enchanting moments that have helped shape her brand and got a sneak peek at her latest collection, "Bespoke," created especially for this special occasion.
Join us on this whimsical adventure into the world of Anna's bridal designs as we celebrate this amazing milestone together!
Anna, congratulations on your iconic bridal brand's 17th anniversary! We're so excited to be on this magical journey with you, experiencing all the wonder and beauty your brand has offered through the years. As we celebrate this incredible milestone, can you give us a glimpse into how you plan to commemorate such a momentous occasion?
Anna: To celebrate this iconic moment we are releasing a very special collection “Bespoke”. Bespoke is a true celebration of the Anna Campbell’s brand - there were no rules or limitations when creating this range, I wanted to make a collection of stand-out pieces that were deeply dreamy, hand crafted, and sparkling. I drew on my love for hand embellished pieces that feel so luxurious, and like a fairytale to wear.
We're thrilled to see all the incredible pieces that will come out of your new "Bespoke" collection! As we eagerly anticipate its release, we're curious to know; looking back at your remarkable journey as a Creative Director over the past 17 years, what has inspired and motivated you in the process of creating your breathtaking bridal dresses?
Anna: I have always been passionate about sewing our gowns in-house in the most sustainable and ethical way possible. Each gown starts with the hand embellished fabric - the thousands of beads and sequins on each gown are meticulously hand sewn by our amazing partners who are based in India. We have worked with the same team for over a decade now, and I am still astounded by the incredible quality and attention to detail - one of my favourite parts of designing a collection is designing these amazing fabrics and seeing them come to life slowly.
From there, once we receive the embellished fabrics into our Melbourne studio we hand cut each gown one by one, then the gowns are passed to our machinists, then to the hand finishing team where final embellishments are embroidered onto the gown, and finishings like buttons are completed. I adore seeing each gown come to life, and working really closely with our team.
Your unique craftsmanship has truly defined your iconic brand, and it's inspiring to know that each of your gowns is meticulously adorned with unique embellishment designs by you and your talented team. As we marvel at your stunning creations, we can't help but wonder - what did the very first Anna Campbell piece looked like 17 years ago? We'd love to hear about your early inspirations and how your vision has evolved over time.
Very different! I was a 19 year old waitress who had just quit my fashion degree and was living in student accommodation. I had started making headpieces and selling them into a local boutique and had absolutely no idea where the brand would go - but there was always a deep drive to make it work, and honestly prove my fashion tutors wrong who thought I was hopeless!
Your passion and dedication has taken you on an incredible journey, leading you to create something truly magical that has captivated brides around the world. Is there a particular moment or collection that holds a special place in your heart and how has it helped shape your vision for the stunning Bespoke collection
Creating Bespoke I drew so much inspiration from our Gossamer collection which was released in 2013. It was released at a time where the business was much smaller and I felt truly free and experimental in my design and was just creating the most jaw-droppingly beautiful gowns that I could. This was the ethos I took into the design and creation of this range - to just create uninhibited by what I thought may or not work commercially and relish in the creative journey each gown takes you on, designing pieces that make you say ‘wow’!
In particular, the 2013 collection included the original Ashlyn gown which we have developed a modern take on for Bespoke. It is hard to describe how important the Ashlyn dress is to me and how close it is to my heart. It’s a show-stopping gown dripping in embellishment. When it was first released it launched us into the US market, we had brides fly from all over the world to have us create this gown, and I even made one for my sister to walk down the aisle in too!
It's truly exciting to see what you've created with Bespoke so far - the collection is stunning and has us eagerly anticipating what's to come. Can you give us a hint of what else we can expect to see from this magical line?
A sense of WOW! Of elevated luxury and jaw-dropping moments!
This isn't a collection for the minimalist or understated bride - it is for the bride who wants to feel truly spectacular, who wants to float down the aisle sparkling as their fiance catches their breath! It’s about creating a balance between intricately embroidered and free flowing - feeling exquisite in a masterpiece of a dress, yet still like you want to dance!
The anticipation is almost too much to handle - we're dying to see the Bespoke collection! Can you give us a little insight into when we might be able to get our hands on these stunning pieces?
March 20th 2023. Stay tuned! It will be exceptional!