We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Gorski recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been making jewelry. Even as a kid, I tried to sell friendship bracelets on the playground. That operation was busted by teachers within a week, so I set my sights on family members at holiday gatherings. They humored me, and then returned to their cribbage and drinks.

After graduating college, I moved out to Los Angeles from the midwest and began working at an independent film and television production company. I was thrilled by the prospect of working in the industry and enjoyed preparing films for international release. After eight or nine years though, I was on the brink on burn out. I found myself on a plane headed to the Cannes Film Festival and I was so tired and stressed, I couldn’t stop crying. What began as my dream job was turning into a nightmare. It was time to move on.

At that point, my friends are I were starting to getting married and I started making veils for us to wear to our weddings. A dear friend of mine, who seemed to know my calling before I did, showed up at my door one August afternoon and asked me to help her with her vision for a long chiffon veil topped with a flower crown. Making it brought me so much joy, I decided to keep going and create a line of bridal accessories ranging from veils to crowns to belts. Years later, it’s my full time job and I have pieces in stores across the globe.

Working full time as a designer is the most fulfilling career I can imagine for myself. As a business owner and the sole designer of the pieces I work on, I have loads of freedom over what I’m working on day to day, and I am no longer crying on airplanes.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I make bridal accessories of all kinds, including veils, floral tiaras, hair accessories, and belts. Everything is made by hand, and most pieces are made with an assortment of components like flowers, pearls, beads, rhinestones, and crystals.

I started off as a bride, making my own unique accessories at a small table in the corner of the living room and cutting veils on the dining table. Today I work out of a small studio outside my home, and my style has evolved from sleek, understated luxury to more ornamental, botanical-inspired designs.

Bespoke means custom, one-of-a-kind. I have a collection of pieces that are ready-to-wear, but I specialize in creating accessories for brides who are looking for something they’ve dreamt up but can’t find anywhere. Sometimes that means creating something from scratch, or customizing an already existing design to match a detail on a wedding dress, or using heirloom lace from a mother’s or grandmother’s gown.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Even though I’ve been creative and enjoyed the arts my whole life, I lacked conviction that I could be a successful designer. I thought only “real” artists could make art for a living, and I felt very much that I needed someone to give me permission to begin. I tried to fit myself into other people’s idea of me for so long that I couldn’t figure out what I wanted for myself. It took me a long time to understand that I could give myself the permission I was looking for.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There are so many aspects of my work that I find rewarding. I look forward to sitting down to work every single day. When I’m stuck in traffic or washing dishes after dinner, I love letting my mind wander over new designs and styles. I never tire of looking at the dreamy, beautiful collections my contemporaries are coming out with.

A veil I made was recently published in British Vogue. It’s a massive achievement by any measure, and I wish I could travel back in time to the girl making friendship bracelets in Wisconsin and tell her that this was in her future.

And of course I love my brides and being able to make something for them that will forever be a part of the best day of their lives. I love getting photos of brides on their wedding day in one of my pieces.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://bespokebridalshop.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/bespokebridalshop
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/bespokebridalshop

Image Credits
Sarah Gorski