ABOVE AND BEYOND
TONI RODRIGUEZ OF BEYOND WHITE
If you love your job enough, it’s safe to say you’d do at least the bare minimum it requires of you. If you’re burning with passion however, you’ll teach yourself the ropes if you have to, just to go the extra mile. That’s how it started with Beyond White’s founder, Toni Rodriguez; her effort to go beyond 100% was her pathway in establishing Beyond White. Designing custom bridal gowns, Beyond White makes sure that each dress they create is custom-fit to their bride. They’ve managed to give equal importance to the design and fit of a gown, in fact it was one of Toni ‘s vision when she was starting the brand. “Throughout the years as a makeup artist, I’ve encountered brides who are happy with the entire look I’ve created for them but end up disappointed with how their dress turned out.. Beyond White was born in 2015 out of my desire to create beautiful gowns that fit a woman’s body like a glove,” she shares.
Not later than a year, she released her first collection with an average of four clients a month. Two years down the line, Beyond White has marked itself as the home of intricate and classic designs. Although the wedding industry never runs out of new up-andcoming designers, Toni has managed to give Beyond White its distinct branding, defining what for her sets her designs apart, “For me fashion is deja vu, meaning our past usually inspires us. Beyond White’s aesthetics trace back to my childhood when I grew up loving all sorts of dainty, elegant, feminine little dresses. Those are the defining factors that set Beyond White apart from the rest.”
Yet drawing inspiration from the “past” can be a tricky technique, especially since designs of wedding gowns change as quick as the industry’s prices soar. Every bride would have adored purely white puffy gowns a decade ago, but brides today have been much more daring. Take for example the tradition of wedding gowns being purely white, this has been bended by modern brides in more ways than one. For Toni however, these trends don’t serve as a limitation, but more as a room for her brand to grow along with her clientele. She
puts, “My brand name says it all - BEYOND WHITE. You shouldn’t be limited to having a traditional white gown. So I think it’s great that brides are more experimental and obviously, we encourage our brides to choose a dress that complements their skin tone and personal style.“
It certainly is more than just color for Toni, she never allows a bride to leave without the complete Beyond White experience¬— from sketches, fittings to final touches, the process indulges every woman to watch her vision materialize. “I make sure that my team gives each bride the complete Beyond White experience. From inquiries, consultations, fittings up to the final day. Most of the time conceptualization starts with me and I have two other creative designers under my team who help me carry out the execution.
The last step of the process always has to be my final touches”, she assures.
Her work and final designs—however minimally or heavily influenced by her clients, trends or even time constraints when designing a gown—never leaves her sight without a breathtaking touch of elegance. If anything, elegance is Toni’s signature touch in producing gowns. Her collections boast of A-line and sheath structured gowns that hug a bride’s body while embellished with details of pearls or lace. Toni shares that a lot of her designs also draw inspiration from Dior, a designer brand known for its timeless pieces, which is probably why her own creations is nothing short of classic.
Elegance and sophistication–the utter proof that Toni has never surrendered her beyond 100% philosophy. For Toni, it isn’t simply about looking and feeling confident from head to toe any longer.
Aside from a stunning wedding gown and impeccable makeup, it is about translating timelessness into her designs and creating an unforgettable experience. So that even after the bride’s big day, she still feels as confidently radiant as she did when she walked down the aisle.