During the summer, I had the privilege of attending the Folkster Bridal Showcase in Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre. To say I was blown away by the whole event is an understatement! The collection was breathtaking. Gowns and accessories I’d not seen before, and the food, styling, location and company were fabulous! Before brides from all around the country came in to see the two runway shows, I got the chance to sit down with Roisin Hennessy, Head of Bridal at Folkster and ask her some questions about Folkster Bridal, and their stunning collections.
The Folkster Family
Folkster is a true family-run business. Blanaid started Folkster and had been working away on that, when Roisin moved home and together they played with the idea of introducing bridal collections to the Folkster brand. Sisters Blanaid and Roisin work together with their brother, Eoin, who does all the photographs for their collections. “Working together is really brilliant. Because we’re siblings, we bounce off and balance each other. We have the same aesthetic and vibe and understand where the other is coming from.”
Folkster Collections
Both Blanaid and Roisin carefully select pieces from around the world to stock in their Folkster Bridal store in Kilkenny. “First and foremost, we choose things that we would want to wear ourselves. What do I love? Because I don’t want to buy something I don’t love, and I can’t sell something I don’t love either.” Although Blanaid and Roisin have lots of different styles, categories, age groups and brides in mind when they buy in new collections, it has to be authentic to who they are and their aesthetic. “I’m obsessed with bridal gowns. For me, it’s not about trends, it’s about what do you love? What are you seeing elsewhere and how can you incorporate that into an Irish bride?”
During the show I spotted some amazing capes, which are made exclusively for Folkster Bridal and can be fully customised to suit each bride and budget. Folkster Bridal are also exclusive stockists of Don O’Neill’s Theia Collection, which I featured in this post. They also unveiled Marco y Maria, gorgeous dresses made in Tenerife and due in store in the coming weeks. The detail in these dresses is phenomenal and perfect for brides looking for a whimsical, ethereal look that hasn’t been seen before – Folkster Bridal’s speciality!
The Folkster Bride
Folkster Bridal is not for the traditional bride. Instead, they pride themselves on offering something different to the Irish Bridal market that hasn’t been seen before. Roisin always asks her brides, “Who do you want to be? What version of yourself do you want to be on your wedding day?” Whether that’s a boho, indie, glamorous, relaxed or simple bridal look. Roisin and her team of consultants want to bring the best part of their brides out.
The Folkster Experience
Bridal collections are sold exclusively in the Folkster Bridal store in Kilkenny. Veils, belts, headpieces and accessories are all chosen to compliment their gowns. All gowns are made to order. However, they also have some off-the-rack options for last minute brides, with prices ranging from €900 – €3,500. They operate on an appointment only basis, each appointment is 1 hour and 15 minutes long and you can now book your appointment on their newly-updated website. Appointments book up fast though, so make sure to book in advance. Their private bridal rooms cater for two appointments at a time, without either bride seeing the other.
Tips for Brides
Many brides find it overwhelming when walking into a bridal boutique, seeing and trying on so many dress options. So Roisin recommends brides look at magazines, blogs, Pinterest and Instagram first, instead of using an appointment as research. Folkster Bridal can accommodate a maximum bridal party of four, but ideally three people, plus the bride. “The less people you bring with you, the easier you will find it to focus on how the gown makes you feel.” Finally, Roisin recommends brides find their gown first, then look for bridesmaid’s dresses to compliment the look.
Folkster Bridal have just updated their website, which you can find here. New collections will be added online and arriving in store soon. So be sure to follow them on social media to keep up to date. I’ll also be featuring the full Marco y Maria collection in an upcoming post, so make sure you subscribe – this collection is not one to be missed!
If you love the Folkster style, check out this post on the latest Theia Bridal collection from Irish designer, Don O’Neill and exclusively stocked at Folkster Bridal.
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