Who is Amsale?
This Ethopian designer first begin designing wedding dresses after a frustrated search for her own gown in 1985 left her realizing there was a void in the market for simple yet sophisticated wedding dresses. With a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and experience working for Harvé Benard, she knew she could create something better herself. So she placed an ad in the back of bridal magazines for custom made gowns, and soon began getting orders. Her business grew as people recognized her classic yet modern style. In 1997, she added a line of evening dresses and separates which have seen similar success.Amsale developed her style sense as a child in Addis Ababa, where she and her sister often made their own clothes. She first came to the US in order to attend college in Vermont, but the toppling of the Ethiopian government and subsequent imprisonment of her diplomat father left her without money. She moved to Boston, worked and saved up enough money to graduate from Boston State College with a political science degree, and then attend FIT.
Amsale has a savvy business sense, and in order to provide something for diverse kinds of brides, she acquired the venerable Christos line of wedding dresses, and hired Kenneth Pool to launch a line that emphasizes beading and over-the-top glamour. When that relationship ended, Amsale was savvy again to hire media darling Austin Scarlett of Project Runway to take over the line.
Today, the four lines – Amsale Bridal, Amsale evening, Christos, and Kenneth Pool are produced in her stunning New York showroom. Wedding dresses are made-to-order to a bride’s exact measurements and specifications.
