Ethnic inspired wedding gowns by Therez Fleetwood

Courtesy of Therez Fleetwood: The Sudan Boys Gown

In honor of Black History Month, the Sacramento Bridal Fashion Examiner is dedicating her articles to African-American wedding industry gurus. This week, the Sacramento Bridal Fashion Examiner had the opportunity to interview renowned exotic wedding gown designer, Therez Fleetwood of Therez Fleetwood Bridal. I have been a fan of Therez Fleetwood's gowns for some time now and was not at all surprised to learn of her designing ethnic inspired costumes for Walt Disney Theme Parks and Resort's Micky & Minnie Mouse. Therez Fleetwood's gowns are inspired by countries such as Egypt, India, Morocco, South Africa and Asia. Her gowns add color to the traditional white American wedding gown, making the gown exotic and unique to each of her brides.

Courtesy of Therez Fleetwood: Ayana Gown

Therez Fleetwood studied fashion design at The Fashion Institute of Technology and as the interview below will show has been sewing since childhood. She worked as a production manager in New York for years perfecting her garment construction and garment making process skills. For the past 11 years, Therez has been designing and making wedding gowns under her own name, Therez Fleetwood. Her designs have been featured in top magazines, shown on many television shows and on display at Museum of the City in New York and the Black Fashion Museum. Therez Fleetwood is the epitome of a self-made fashion designer making her mark on the world with her own exotic and distinct style. Not only is she a talented and successful designer, Therez is also a writer. So, without further ado, the Sacramento Bridal Fashion Examiner would like to introduce to Sacramento, the talented, creative and exotic wedding gown designer, Therez Fleetwood.

Courtesy of Therez Fleetwood: Disney's Micky & Minnie Mouse

SBFE: How long have you been in the wedding gown industry?

TF: I have been in the wedding industry since 1999.

SBFE: What inspired your start in the industry?

TF: I’m not sure what inspired my start in the industry besides wanting to wear the clothes that I couldn’t afford.

SBFE: How long have you been designing? How long have you been sewing?

TF: I have always been involved in fashion. I was participating in fashion shows back in my home town of Boston, MA since the age of 14. My parents sent me to sewing school at the age of 13 to satisfy my insatiable desire for expensive clothes. They figured, if I learn how to sew then I would make my own clothes and they would not have to keep running back and forth the store to return the items that I did not like.

SBFE: When a bride-to-be contacts you about a custom wedding gown, what do you typically ask her to provide you?

TF: All of our dresses are custom made for each individual client. Since we make each dress per order, we ask them to provide us with several body measurements. These measurements can get as detailed as asking for the upper arm, knee to floor length and diaphragm

SBFE: Can you make a gown based on a photo?

TF: Absolutely, but we don’t. We are a design company not a “copy” company. The only time someone will send us a photo is when we are designing a dress for them that is not in the collection and they like the hem, or they should or the neckline and they want us to incorporate this look into their wedding dress.

SBFE: Can you incorporate certain elements from multiple wedding gowns to make one custom gown?

TF: Yes, we can. We do this often. A client may like two or three of our wedding dresses and they would like to take different design elements from each one. So in this case, if all design elements work together then we can accommodate them.

SBFE: How long does it generally take for you to make a custom gown?

TF: Our lead-time for custom gowns is 5-6 months; however, we make dresses in less time. Any orders under 5 months are subject to a “Rush Fee” added on to their overall cost.

SBFE: A lot of your gowns seem to be ethnic inspired. Where do you look for inspiration when making your gowns?

TF: I love ethnic designs and nuances. My inspiration can come from several things like the way a fabric blows in the wind. Artwork, paintings, batiks, trinkets and different ethnic adornments.

SBFE: Do you make traditional all white, traditional American wedding gowns?

TF: Yes, I do make white gowns. No. I do not make traditional gowns; there are enough of those types of gowns out there for brides to choose from. As a designer, you must find your niche and cater to that. You want to find a way to make your mark in the industry without copying what other designers are doing. It is a challenge to walk to the beat of your own drum but it is also very rewarding.

SBFE: What is your most memorable custom wedding gown experience?

TF: I have so many memorable experiences with my clients, they are precious and treasured. I would have to say, my most memorable experience with designing a custom wedding dress was when I created the KAMILI dress. I had just returned from Southern Africa visiting Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. I felt in love with the batik paintings and artwork from this region. I wanted to take that inspiration and incorporated that feeling into a wedding dress. It is so exciting as a designer to see your vision come to life. This dress was also on exhibit at the “Black Style Now” exhibit in New York at the Museum of the City which highlighted African American designers who made black style a big business.

SBFE: Have you designed a gown for a specific wedding theme, recently? How was that experience?

TF: I designed a wedding dress a few years ago as a tribute to The Lost Boys of the Sudan. I was inspired by the red and yellow costumes worn by the married women of that country. When you design a dress around a theme you must make sure you capture the essence of that theme. It was an emotional experience because of the plight of these young refugees; however, I was enlightened as well because I had to research the Sudan in order to create a dress that would pay homage to its people. Today, this is still one of my favorite pieces and I can’t wait for it to become part of a museum exhibit.

SBFE: Do you have gowns available for immediate sale?

TF: No, all of our gowns are made to order.

SBFE: So, I saw on your website that you designed Afrocentric costumes for Mickey & Minnie Mouse. How was that experience?

TF: I love taking on design challenges – and what an honor it was to create outfits for Mickey and Minnie Mouse. At the time I had no idea that they would be a part of the 150 special occasion outfits. I was asked to design costume for the Miss African American Pageant so that they could represent the event. Now Disney has even made plush dolls of Mickey and Minnie wearing their kente garb. How fun!

SBFE: Not only are you a talented and creative designer, you are also a writer. Tell my readers about your guide, The AfroCentric Bride - A Style Guide, and the reason for writing the guide.

TF: I wrote the Afrocentric Bride – a Style Guide, to answer all the emails I received from brides asking questions about (1) how to style their wedding, (2) what’s the best silhouette for their body type (3) what should their bridesmaids wear; and (4) what kind of accessories will work with their wedding dress, etc. It is a guide book that helps brides create the perfect ethnic look for their wedding.