PLANS AND PRESENTS WEDDING AND EVENTS BLOG: Supplier Spotlight

Today I am thrilled to share the wonderful work of Mette Baillie of Freja Fashion.
Think silk, taffeta, chiffon and lace, and somewhere and someone who can make a bespoke gown just the way you imagine it.
From designing her first dresses as a child, to Danish fashion houses, to a love that led her to Edinburgh to the award winning designer you see today, Mette has been on an incredible journey.

I had a chat to Mette to find out a little bit about her.

What is it you do, and what services do you offer ?

"I run a small design studio in the Centre of Edinburgh New Town. I am a couture designer and have a very skilled team of four dressmakers to help me."

"Our core business is wedding dresses, which we design and make.
We also design and make Mother of the bride/groom outfits, bridesmaids dresses and gowns for flower girls, and have much repeat custom, with customers coming back to have pieces made throughout the year."

When, and why did you start your Business ?

"I started my business 11 years ago. I had a degree from Denmark and I had worked temporarily in England pattern cutting and designing for a company making ladies wear for Marks & Spencer."

"From that time I knew I wanted to make individual pieces... rather than thousands for M&S.
My training was based on couture techniques. I researched the subject and found that there were not many companies offering this kind of service."

"In the UK there are a lot of fashion graduates, but mainly aimed towards industry and not the more artisan way of working with fashion, which is prevalent in Europe, and in years gone by was a UK standard."

What inspires you ?

"I love period clothes, and also the different subcultures and how they communicate through clothes.
Clothes have their own language, and we can’t help but communicate and express ourselves via our clothes.
Fashion has a voice."

"Many things inspire me whether an old drawing, embroidery, colours in the forest, and on the beach.
Basically all sorts of things become inspiration for my work."

What has been your favourite assignment, and why ?

"I am so so fortunate to get a lot of very interesting assignments from very inspiring clever and beautiful ladies."

"The thing I always think of when I get asked that question is a dress I was asked to make not long after I set up my own business.
I was asked to make a dress for Prince Williams 21st birthday. It wasn’t because it was a royal event, (there has been many since, and there was a couple before) but because the inspiration was Karen Blixen.
This lady was my idol."

"Karen is a Danish Author who lived on her farm in Kenya. ( she was played by Meryl Streep in the film Out of Africa)
I love all of Karen work, and was so excited by this commission.
I made a lovely wool crepe strapless evening dress, with silk satin trimmings and collar and cuffs of black oily feathers.. it was a lovely, timeless piece and very African indeed."

Whats your greatest achievement ?

"I think running your own business gives great achievements every day....but the biggest achievement I think is that we have been nominated 4 years in a row for the VOWS awards."

"I know what is behind giving consistent good customer service, including the development of my staff and seeing them grow as dressmakers, customer service assistants and great citizens."

Whats the future for your Business ?

"Fingers crossed we are going to bigger premises over the winter if plans fall into place.. and winning the VOWS this year would just be the icing on the cake!"