TERIN GABBALAGE
Crop tops, will still be in, while cape sleeves and cold shoulders will make a strong comeback
The founder of Wedding Dreams and TERIN, Designer Terin began her journey as a Designer 14 years ago. Her's was the first store creating bridal dresses and spotting a demand for glamourous evening-wear she started Evening wear by TERIN. Her specialty is creating luxury bridal dresses and evening wear for discerning brides and those seeking a glamourous gown for a special occasion.
WHAT MADE YOU EMBARK ON A FASHION DESIGN CAREER
I’ve always been creative and developed a love for fashion and textiles from a very young age. The sense of achievement I get when I transform a design on a paper to an actual garment is one of the main reasons that made me choose designing as a career.
WHAT IS YOUR LATEST COLLECTION CALLED
My collection for Wedding Dreams is called ‘White Bridals’. The collection for ‘Evening wear by TERIN’ is called “Bejewelled”
DO YOU SPECIALISE IN WEDDING OR EVENING DRESSES
I started off my career with bridals and started designing evening dresses due to many requests received from my lovely clients. Due to the positive feedback and demand, I decided to launch my second label ‘ Evening wear by TERIN’. So now I specialise both in bridals and Evening dresses.
WHAT INSPIRED THIS COLLECTION
My collection “White bridals” is inspired by the innocence and purity of a woman. The collection consists of subtle hues and simply ornamented gowns with simple, classic cut dresses.
Luxurious fabrics with a dull luster, delicate and shimmering embellishments, sculpted sheaths add a soft romantic feel to the collection while, layers over layer of soft lace flows and sways gently creating a supple atmosphere.
My evening wear collection, ‘bejewelled’ is inspired by the beautiful varieties of gems found in Sri Lanka. The collection consists of exquisite crystal embellishments and fine silks. Shiny golden and silver thread works are the signature looks which add glamour and elegance to the collection.
WHERE DO YOU RETAIL YOUR STUFF
I retail my bridals and evening wear at Wedding Dreams, but my evening wear is also available online.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP TIP WHEN SELECTING A COCKTAIL OR WEDDING DRESS
You should always be aware of what your body type is, and you should accept the fact that all silhouettes will not suit you. If any of my clients are getting a dress designed and custom-made by me, I always encourage them to first try on a dress with a similar cut, so she could see for herself how it looks on her. Just because a dress looks nice in a magazine or Pinterest that does not mean it will be the most stunning silhouette for you.
WHO IS YOUR MUSE
My muse is not an individual or a thing. My muse is my clients, the women around me.
FASHION PREDICTION FOR NEXT SEASON
In terms of silhouettes, crop tops, will still be in, while cape sleeves and cold shoulders will make a strong comeback as it was repeatedly seen in many collections. There was a strong Victorian influence, so we’ll be seeing lots of ruffles, lace and ornamented broaches. Velvet, Silks, sequined and metallic foil fabrics will be a top trend in the next season.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE SEEING DRESSED IN YOUR CREATIONS
I do not have a specific celebrity or a famous person in mind, though it would be great to see one wearing my label. However, I still get excited when I see clients wearing my dresses.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE CREATIVITY WITH COMMERCE
It’s important to understand the client's buying power, so I always work around a budget. If it’s a custom-made garment, I inquire about the budget first and work around it because no matter how fabulous the design is, if the client can’t afford it, I will not be able to get the product sold. I talk to my clients to find the correct balance between my creativity and the commercial appeal of my products in order to drive sales.