We recently connected with Christine Carlson and have shared our conversation below.

Christine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Growing up in Minnesota, my fascination with creativity started at home. My mom sewed many of my clothes, sparking my interest in fashion. I vividly remember crafting Barbie outfits from leftover fabric scraps and even knitting miniature sleeping bags—a playful dive into the world of making things.

As I made my way through high school, vintage fashion began to captivate me, especially the glamorous styles of the 1950s and the allure of iridescent taffeta. I couldn’t resist the urge to reimagine the severe shapes and alter them to match my vision. During those formative years, my determination to pursue a creative path as a fashion designer took hold. Surprisingly, I had never set foot on the East Coast, let alone the bustling streets of New York City. Yet, my heart was set, and that dream would soon propel me into the unknown.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a wedding gown designer, my journey to starting my business, Maybelle, was sparked by a desire to create meaningful, sustainable, and uniquely elegant wedding dresses. My background in fashion from Parsons School of Design and years of experience working with Arnold Scaasi, Zac Posen, and Vera Wang, to name a few, has shaped my understanding of the industry’s intricacies. The brides I serve want an alternative to the cookie-cutter bridal designs seen everywhere that are mass-produced synthetics. When I witnessed the closure of David’s Bridal New York design studio and the outsourcing of jobs to China, it signaled a turning point for me. The bridal industry was losing its individuality and contributing to environmental harm.
Driven by my daughter’s concern for social justice, I wanted to use my expertise to breathe new life into vintage clothing and make it accessible to modern brides. After much thought, I decided to redefine my career.
One significant challenge I found with vintage dresses is that they need to be restored, renovated, and remade to be desirable. I work with a team of experts to creatively transform these vintage pieces into size-inclusive, sustainable, and elegant bridal gowns. My approach involves sourcing extraordinary vintage dresses and preserving their charm and remarkable materials while transforming each piece into a new, unique piece.
In my Maybelle NYC Collection, gowns like the “Sophie” exemplify this approach, showcasing my commitment to inclusivity with sizes ranging from 4 to 18W. My designs and the opportunity to create something deeply personal for each bride set my brand apart. I also have a custom offer, where I work with clients who have dresses worn by their mothers or grandmothers to tailor them to reflect their style. I love these collaborations that lead to something meaningful, sustainable, and one-of-a-kind on their special day.
What I’m most proud of is not just my work but the satisfaction and joy it brings to brides. In a world of mass-produced wedding attire, I offer a chance for brides to wear a dress that tells a story, respects the environment, and embraces their individuality. Every gown I create is a labor of love, driven by a desire to make every bride’s special day even more memorable and meaningful.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I embarked on building my social media presence, I was fortunate to begin just as Instagram Reels was making its debut. Exploring this new feature was not only exciting but also immensely rewarding, as it quickly became the cornerstone of my content strategy. I’ve found that Reels offer a unique opportunity for engagement, and it’s where I receive the most interactions from my audience.

Of course, managing a social media profile can be a demanding task, but I’ve learned that personal content, especially when I’m actively involved, tends to garner the most likes and engagement. It’s a reminder that authenticity resonates with my followers, and I’ve enjoyed sharing more of myself in my posts.

In this journey, I’ve also had the valuable assistance of my interns, who have been instrumental in handling platforms like TikTok and Pinterest. Their creative input and dedication have played a significant role in expanding my social media reach and maintaining a diverse online presence. I’m truly grateful for their contributions to the growth of my social media accounts.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I’ve discovered several dynamic and cost-effective or even free groups and organizations that have been instrumental in my personal and professional development.

One notable resource is “Made in NYC,” which has given me access to marketing classes and photography workshops. These opportunities have improved my skills and enhanced the quality of my content and marketing strategies.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maybellenyc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maybellenyc/