Intro
Atelier Morais is a bridal and evening wear business which also offers accessories and women's apparel. We offer a range of services within those areas which you can read more about below. We want to create beautiful creations not only how they look but how they are made. Creating exquisite pieces that you will want to own and wear that will make you look amazing but also feel it!
Ethics and Values
When starting up this business strong ethics and values had to be at the core of are business. Three of the most key ones are mentioned below:
Slow Fashion
Atelier Morais is a slow fashion business. What is 'Slow Fashion'? To put it simply slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion, it involves the awareness and approach to fashion which considers the processes and resources which are needed to make fashion garments. It promotes buying better quality garments that will last longer; and most importantly the fair treatment of people, animals, and the planet is one of its strongest values. This is extremely important for us and we will be incorporating this in many ways. One of the main things being that nothing will be mass produced, in fact items will only be made either upon order or small quantities will be made to ensure minimal waste is being produced. Continue reading on to the next 2 points which will further explain how Atelier Morais will work to be a slow fashion company.
Sustainability
Sustainability is key to our business, especially in the day and age we live at the moment, it is important to take care of our resources but also take care of our plant! Atelier Morais makes sure that they source their materials and supplies from eco-friendly/sustainable companies and tries to source sustainable materials such as dead stock our environmentally friendly fabrics. Furthermore, Atelier Morais wants to produce as little waste as possible which is the reason we never bin our scrap fabrics and keep them so we can find a use for them or even create zero waste products with them. Being a slow fashion company also contributes a lot to ensure we try to be as sustainable as possible, but there is always room for improvment!
Craftsmenship
Craftsmenship is key for Atelier Morais. Alll the products will be produced in house by myself, Ana. Once the business grows it is very if we need to involve more people in the production of the items they will have a well rounded set of craftmanship skills needed to create beautifully made pieces. How the items are constructed is very important to us and we value that they are constructed to the highest standards possible. As we would require highily skilled people to work for us we would always ensure they are paid fairly for their skills, time and knowledge!
Company and Founder
Atelier Morais was set up and run by Ana Morais. I have created this business as I have a strong passion for fashion and creating beautifully created garments, but also creating something that is purposeful and meaningful.
I have a strong background in the arts, and from a young age I knew I wanted to do something creative with my career. I studied Art and Design for GCSE and A-Levels and then went onto studying Ba(Hons) Fashion Atelier at UCA Rochester. There was where I learnt many of the skills I know today and the meaning of true craftsmanship and the importance of both heritage skills but also modern skills. Studying here made me realise I wanted to go into the field of Bridal and Evening wear.
After my education I worked briefly in a bridal and evening wear boutique and alteration place, where I further expanded my skill set and got a deeper look into the industry I wanted to go into. From that I went onto working in retail for a men's suit shop where I got to learn a lot about what the customer really wants and got to realise some of the gaps in the market. Alongside this, I also work as a Creative Workshop Tutor for UCA where I get to share some of my skills with younger people, but also improve on them while doing it.
What really pushed me to take the leap and set up my own business was because I felt there was something missing in the market and a lot of the partners of the customers I would get in my retail job felt the same way as me. After doing some more research I realised there was a gap in the market and I believe I had what was needed to fill that gap.
As I mention previously I enjoy creating beautiful pieces but also ensuring their our constructed to the highest of standers. I want my pieces to have purpose and mean something to the owners, even the more simple pieces. I want my pieces to be versatile if possible and if not unique to the wearing and ensuring every time the think of it it brings them joy and reminds them the reason the got it or reminds them of the special moment they had while wearing it!