We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kiera Ogden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kiera below.

Alright, Kiera thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

When I was 8 years old my parents took me into New York City to see a Broadway play. On our walk we passed giant store windows filled with all the most beautiful things an 8 year old, fashion obsessed girl could want. One window caught my eye in particular and set my now life, into motion. A spectacular window filled with billowing white wedding gowns. I turned to my parents and told them – “thats what I am going to do when I grow up!”. They asked me “sell wedding gowns?”. I told them no – I am going to make them. From that day forward I began teaching myself to sew with the help of a dear friends Colombian mother (my mother couldn’t sew a button on a shirt). From there I began making all my formal gowns for dances, proms etc. I attended Virginia Commonwealth University to study art and fashion design, graduating in 2009 with my Bachelors in Fine Arts. I was passionate about working with brides and was always a hopeless romantic. I knew if I could create gowns and accessories and work with brides that ever day would leave a mark on the world, no matter how big or small. Bringing joy to peoples lives is my passion. At first I felt like I wasn’t offering something new, just something with a lot of passion behind it. As brides started purchasing my art and I got to see the joy in real time, i realized that I am able to give an experience most designers are not. On top of that I knew that this wouldnt be the only aspect of bridal I would end up in. These looks are works of art, meant for more then a few hours of wear. They are made to uplift and amplify each brides unique beauty. With that thought in mind and after 7 years of Kiera Elise Collection, we expanded our studio to include a designer sample reselling studio. A place for gowns for have a second chance at making a bride feel her best. With an interest in sustainability and upholding the value of the work and meticulous details that go into each gown “The Designer Sample Studio by Kiera Elise” was born. We are now a one stop shop for brides. Offering new, pre-owned and custom designer bridal and eveningwear, we are now New Jersey’s FIRST designer bridal and evening sample studio.

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

When I was 8 years old my parents took me into New York City to see a Broadway play. On our walk we passed giant store windows filled with all the most beautiful things an 8 year old, fashion obsessed girl could want. One window caught my eye in particular and set my now life, into motion. A spectacular window filled with billowing white wedding gowns. I turned to my parents and told them – “thats what I am going to do when I grow up!”. They asked me “sell wedding gowns?”. I told them no – I am going to make them. From that day forward I began teaching myself to sew with the help of a dear friends Colombian mother (my mother couldn’t sew a button on a shirt). From there I began making all my formal gowns for dances, proms etc. I attended Virginia Commonwealth University to study art and fashion design, graduating in 2009 with my Bachelors in Fine Arts. I was passionate about working with brides and was always a hopeless romantic. I knew if I could create gowns and accessories and work with brides that ever day would leave a mark on the world, no matter how big or small. Bringing joy to peoples lives is my passion.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

After graduating into a terrible economy in 2009 – my fashion design degree was not necessarily “sought after”. I entered bridal working any job I could, from consultant to alterations assistant, manager, to buyer. I worked every aspect of bridal to get my feet into the business where ever I could. In July 2019 I finally left my full time bridal management and buying position to follow my dreams of launching my brand. Only to be hit with a global pandemic 6 months later. While this could very easily have been the end, we were able to offer a service that brides needed – gowns and accessories, and fast. Through this experience I worked with many brides creating custom “micro wedding” looks, meeting with other industry professionals and expanding my brand more than I dreamed would be possible in those uncertain times! And in 2023 we opened our first brick and mortar location!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

That you have to have a perfect plan to start a business. From the start I wanted to be a gown designer – but it all started with my small accessories line in the boutique I managed. From there everything changed. Seeing people love and purchase my art set everything into motion to keep moving and adapting the business to suit the current climate and that continues to this day as we expand brand into even more that we ever dreamed!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kieraelise.com
• Instagram: @kieraelisecollection
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kieraelisecollection/

Image Credits

Andrea Scrivanich