ADELE WECHSLER

Adele Wechsler's experiences not only make her an interesting person, but have also helped her become a trend setter in the bridal-fashion industry

A successful twenty-one year old fashion designer, with a newly opened business in Cape Town, South Africa, would not normally have any thoughts of leaving the beautiful warm shores of the Indian Ocean to travel to the sub-artic environment of North America. Add to that an unexpected proposal from a man she had recently met with a marriage sponsorship that had a three month deadline, all within a new country.  Typically, you would have most women running for the hills, but not Adele Wechsler.  She took fate in her hands – and the adventure begins…

Upon arrival in Toronto, she started designing handmade knits and fabric coordinates. Adele’s love of luxurious fabrics such as French lace, silks and chiffons in monochromatic colours of ivory, cream and blushes was only exceeded by her clients, so much so that they wanted to get married in them. “The typical puffy white gown was the only option at the time,” said Adele. “I saw a niche that could be filled and that is how my Adele Bridal Collection was born.”

The Adele Bridal Collection is understated, modern, contemporary, streamlined and romantic. Beautiful fabrics and fine details of an organic element are hand sewn into the dresses; flowers, leaves and stems are used; sheer overlays in organza create a soft mysterious underlay.

For sixteen years, Adele worked out of her flagship store on Avenue Road in Toronto. Five years ago, she expanded her bridal collection to North American retailers and quickly discovered that the space on Avenue Road could not accommodate the bridal gown production numbers. In March of 2007, Adele moved her boutique and workshop to a new location on Bentworth Avenue in North York. The new facility provides ample and accessible parking for her clients as well as enough space to meet her rapidly growing demand. The workshop has plenty of room for her five full-time seamstresses that custom cut each bridal gown.

Today, in her new workshop, Adele unveils her 2007 fall collection, HELLO AFRICA, which reflects on her South African roots.  As she said, “A combination of ideas went into designing this collection. The first being, brides today want their weddings to have sentimental meaning and the African culture expresses this well.”

Geometric shapes and patterns symbolize the circle of life and the triangle of fertility.  The beadwork for the dresses is done by talented local women in Durban, which also helps create employment in an area where jobs are scarce. Adele says, “The women work from their homes designing beautiful bead and shell patterns that are unique to each dress.”

Before I left Adele’s workshop, I had one last question for her, “What ever happened with the marriage proposal?”

“Well, I arrived here in Canada and after two months I married that fellow, in Toronto, at City Hall. Not very romantic but we did go back to Durban at a later date, where we are both from, to celebrate with family and friends. Oh, and did I mention I just celebrated my twenty-fourth anniversary with him?”

So that is the story – the tried, tested and true romance. The most romantic of all! 

Colleen Oreskovic
Stylist/Fashion Contributor
[email protected]
The Ring Bearer.ca

Take a look at Adele's complete bridal gown collection in TheRingBearer.ca's Wedding Attire section.

Adele Wechsler 2007 Collection:
Cindy
Ebele
Natasha
Adazi
Andrine
Ariella
Charlotte
Dalila
Elodie
Elyssa
Fiona
Jill
Jubilele
Kamali
Kesha
Latifa
Lindiwe
Lola
Mandisa
Nadine
Nicole
Nomsa
Nzima
Palesa
Sakile
Pamela
Roseve
Roxanne
Zalika
Zara
Zoe
Zola