‘Bespoke’ wedding dresses made in China

A WEDDING boutique was caught selling fake “handmade” dresses when brides spotted “made in China” labels, a court heard.

Melanie Bishop, 36, and her mother Patricia, 60, tricked 13 brides into believing they were buying bespoke gowns costing up to £1,000 and made at a workshop in Wales. When brides found the labels they launched a campaign to get their cash back.

But the shop was quickly shut, leaving more than 100 other brides worried they would be left without dresses.

Both women now face possible jail sentences after pleading guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to 18 counts of “engaging in unfair commercial practice” after brides complained to consumer watchdogs.

Melanie Bishop said the women should have known their dresses were manufactured in China and said she was the victim of “abuse and lies”.

Both women, of Oakdale, near Blackwood, South Wales, were granted bail ahead of their sentencing in March.