Timeless Heirlooms
Monvieve handcrafts the most exquisite and refined bridal accessories that become timeless heirlooms for future generations.
Interview with Alison Miller, owner of Monvieve
monvieve.com / @monvieve
Photography by Max Botticelli @maxbotticelli
What is the history of the company? Monvieve is an Italian haute couture heirloom bridal accessory company based in Italy and New York. We started in designer ready-to-wear and couture, and our bridal gowns and accessories were initially developed for our couture clients. In effect, we live in-between the fashion and bridal worlds, borrowing from our history to elevate the bridal quotient. It is meant for modern brides who are looking for that sublime bridal accessory that stirs the imagination with emotional impact while appealing to the timeless traditions of a
wedding ceremony.
What are the values, design or otherwise, that are foundational for the brand? It’s not often that truly unique, high-fashion bridal products come to market that carry the distinction of future heirlooms. Owning a Monvieve means celebrating your wedding day with generations of daughters to come. Our proprietary techniques take years to master, and we value this commitment and investment. The artisans in our factory, or those we collaborate with, are masters of their trade. We value them and their phenomenal work. In a world of ‘luxury,’ the only word that matters to us anymore is quality. This can be traced from the Florentine guilds of the Renaissance to the couture runways of Paris. Couture is something you can see, touch, and experience. To that point, our veils even move differently – it is something you can feel.
From where do you draw your inspiration? Architecture, art, art history, great literature, and the best of the fashion industry – the icons. Inspiration comes from a wide vernacular of curated visuals – running from the Etruscans to the Bauhaus. In the end though, the best fashion design ideas never come from fashion. Far too derivative. I’ve always been looking elsewhere (and inward). Ultimately, I’m about experimentation and developing new techniques, like working hand pleated eel into zibeline cashmere with a variation on the double face technique. Expand the design vernacular – that is when the magic starts. . .
Tell us about the materials and the process behind choosing and sourcing them. Start with the best manufacturing found today. . . in Italy. Source and design the finest laces (France / only a few exceptional mills) and calibrate the fabrication weight of your proprietary tulle to reflect that of the lace. When you are hand cutting and joining the finest Chantilly and silk organza to the finest tulle, you need the most studied qualities coupled with a skilled team. We hand pick and train our workers and invest heavily in research and development.
Does sustainability play a role within your business? If so, how? Sustainability is front and centre in everything we do. We take this very seriously and have studied our carbon footprint extensively. We work only with mills that have pledged the same level of commitment, and many lead on this front in their respective countries. When we realised that we couldn’t account for transportation, we started an initiative: for every veil we sell, we plant a tree. It has become a hallmark of what we do, and a fitting symbol of bridal and the nurturing of a new marriage.
Please talk through the process which a bride can expect when choosing Monvieve. Finding the right accessory is truly a process of discovery. I usually start with a simpler, classic veil and explain how they are constructed and the transitions between our cutwork and the intrinsic design of the fine leaver’s laces. The key is to assist a bride as she tells me what she is responding to – and help her to best articulate what she sees and feels as she takes in her reflection. I make gentle suggestions, but mostly I listen as I walk her through the endless possibilities. As everything is hand-made for her, anything is possible. It’s a magical journey for us both.
What can we anticipate for Monvieve in the future? Moving the needle forward, we are looking to do more collections in different product categories with artisans that share our vision. We’re aligned closer with couture / Paris and will be launching these collections there. As with our veils, our motto is that we will not bring anything to market that doesn’t have a reason to exist. It is a saturated marketplace, and our ethos of sustainability requires us to be purposeful. We believe products need to be singular to be a real part of the circular economy. To that point, our gowns will be like our accessories – you will not find the style or craft elsewhere. The idea is to bring couture design and workmanship to the ready-to-wear marketplace, and like everything we’ve always done, you’ll see new techniques, pairings, and concepts that utilise the best mills and artisans.
Please talk through the process which a bride can expect when choosing Monvieve. Finding the right accessory is truly a process of discovery. I usually start with a simpler, classic veil and explain how they are constructed and the transitions between our cutwork and the intrinsic design of the fine leaver’s laces. The key is to assist a bride as she tells me what she is responding to – and help her to best articulate what she sees and feels as she takes in her reflection. I make gentle suggestions, but mostly I listen as I walk her through the endless possibilities. As everything is hand-made for her, anything is possible. It’s a magical journey for us both.
What can we anticipate for Monvieve in the future? Moving the needle forward, we are looking to do more collections in different product categories with artisans that share our vision. We’re aligned closer with couture / Paris and will be launching these collections there. As with our veils, our motto is that we will not bring anything to market that doesn’t have a reason to exist. It is a saturated marketplace, and our ethos of sustainability requires us to be purposeful. We believe products need to be singular to be a real part of the circular economy. To that point, our gowns will be like our accessories – you will not find the style or craft elsewhere. The idea is to bring couture design and workmanship to the ready-to-wear marketplace, and like everything we’ve always done, you’ll see new techniques, pairings, and concepts that utilise the best mills and artisans.
“Monvieve is meant for modern brides who are looking for that sublime bridal accessory that stirs the imagination with emotional impact while appealing to the timeless traditions of a wedding ceremony.”
Alison Miller
“Moving the needle forward, we are looking to do more collections in different product categories with artisans that share our vision.”
Alison Miller
