The Riverside Journals - Festivals Issue 38 - FULL | Page 23

Interview/Business Profile with

Caroline
Castigliano

Situated as you are in the heart of London, in Knightsbridge, how do you
think Caroline Castigliano stands out from other wedding designers?
Firstly, most of our contemporaries have moved their production offshore to
save money, it is unique to continue to create gowns in the United Kingdom.
To offer true quality handcrafted dresses in luxury fabrics made to measure
you need the production here in the UK where you can oversee technicians to
create gowns to the finest detail and precision.
What encouraged you to pursue a career in bridal design and did someone
close to you inspire you? I have read that you initially started designing an active
sportswear range for women in Florida; why the change to bridal wear?
I had made clothes since I was very young, my mother started to teach me when I
was about five years old. When I took the opportunity to go to the USA and design
active sportswear I was interested in business, marketing, and it was incredible that
the first line I created got bought by the biggest retailers in the world.
I moved to Miami to run the company but after a few years realized that I
wanted something more than designing active sportswear. I moved back to the
UK and put my mind to thinking of a business that would fulfill all my talents,
and that was bridal wear.
Caroline, I know that you have worked with some very famo