Entry No. 14: The Expert Art of Made-to-Order: How I Ensure Every Gown Meets the Highest Standard for My Brides
Why, hello Darling.
Today I’m lifting the veil on a part of my process that most designers never talk about—and yet, it’s one of the reasons my brides receive gowns of such exceptional quality.
It’s not a “secret,” but it is an expertise: how I use my years of professional design experience, my global manufacturing network, and my couture-level quality standards to produce heirloom-level wedding dresses—each one made to order, by one artisan, from start to finish.
In an industry where the words handmade, custom, and luxury are thrown around with little explanation, I believe in giving you the truth—because when you understand the process, you can appreciate the craftsmanship in an entirely new way.
Mass Production, Small Batch, and Made-to-Order—The Real Luxury Is in the Last One
In bridal, the term made-to-order is often misused. Here’s what it really means:
Mass Production: 100+ gowns per style, often thousands. Made in advance, stored in warehouses, shipped to boutiques.
Small Batch: 10–50 gowns per style, limited runs, sometimes boutique-focused.
Made-to-Order (My Standard): The gown does not exist until you order it. It is created in your size, to your specifications, just for you. No warehouse. No racks of pre-made dresses. One gown at a time.
For both of my collections—Dani Simone Couture and By Dani Simone Studio—the only version of each gown that exists ahead of time is the sample. I keep that sample for my archives, reusing it for fashion shows, photoshoots, and private presentations. I believe in sustainability, and that extends to giving each sample multiple lives, rather than producing waste by creating duplicate display gowns.
I also do not follow the industry pressure to release new collections once, twice, or more times a year. My last new collection was completed between February and March of last year, and the one before that was created in 2020 going into 2021. This slower, more intentional pace allows me to focus on quality and creativity rather than constant turnover.
When a bride orders from my made-to-order collections, she often chooses to customize the gown for herself—making it truly one-of-a-kind. No other gown like it exists. I even offer complimentary simple customizations, such as lifting or lowering a neckline or back, or adding cap sleeves, short sleeves, or straps.
For my bespoke gowns, each design is literally the only one of its kind, created through my artistic reinterpretation of a bride’s inspiration, vision, or aesthetic. What matters most to me is that I never mass produce, I never create multiples of the same gown, and I never keep dresses sitting in a stockroom or warehouse gathering dust to be sold off as clearance samples.
That means your gown is fresh from the atelier, never tried on by strangers, and crafted with your wedding day in mind from the first stitch to the last.
One Artisan, One Gown—A Level of Care You Can Feel
Every gown I design is entrusted to a single expert artisan.
Not an assembly line. Not divided among workers. Not rushed for efficiency.
One set of hands takes your gown from first seam to final press. That kind of craftsmanship isn’t the fastest way—it’s the right way. And it’s the way couture is meant to be made.
My Expertise—Years of Industry Experience in Service of My Brides
Before launching my own label, I worked in the fashion industry in both New York and Los Angeles. As a designer in New York, I spent my days perfecting garment fit, sending specifications and measurements, selecting fabrics, and communicating these details directly to sample makers and manufacturers.
I oversaw the process of taking a design from concept to final garment, giving detailed construction notes, solving technical challenges, and ensuring the vision was flawlessly executed. While it’s relatively straightforward to work with a sample maker who is right in your shop or nearby, communicating with overseas manufacturers is an entirely different skill—one that is highly sought after and well paid in the fashion industry. It’s an art form, requiring clarity, precision, and an understanding of how to translate design language across cultures and time zones.
Over the years, I have searched for and worked with manufacturers from all over the world—from Turkey to Bangladesh, Pakistan to Italy, India (home to some of the finest hand-beading and embellishment techniques), Vietnam, and more. And while each country offers unique strengths, I ultimately chose China as my primary production hub because their bridal craftsmanship is unmatched at multiple levels—from couture high-end gowns to mid–high-level made-to-order pieces.
This decision was not made lightly. I have spent years—and considerable money, sweat, and tears—vetting the right manufacturers based on construction quality, couture techniques, consistency, communication, timeliness, production capacity, and specialized expertise. The partners I work with today meet every one of my exacting standards, and I trust them implicitly with my designs and my brides’ dreams.
Why I Partner with the World’s Best Craftspersons
I work with two dedicated sample rooms in China—by choice. The country has invested decades into building the most advanced bridal production infrastructure in the world. These ateliers have the equipment, the skill, and the generational knowledge to execute gowns at the highest level.
My partners are not faceless factories. One is a high-level couture atelier specializing in hand finishes and corsetry. The other is a small, woman-owned workshop with a capacity of just 5,000 gowns a month—tiny by industry standards.
Both create gowns only after they are ordered, with one artisan per dress. Both have been carefully vetted over years to meet my exacting standards.
Why This Matters for You as a Bride
When you step into your gown, you’re wearing:
Fabric I personally sourced for its beauty, drape, and longevity.
Construction techniques perfected by artisans who have made hundreds of couture gowns.
A dress created without waste, excess stock, or warehouse dust.
It means your gown is sustainable, intentional, and crafted for you alone.
And to ensure every gown meets my standards, I am creating a 32-point quality control checklist—a rigorous system to review each Dani Simone Couture and By Dani Simone Studio gown before it ever reaches your hands. Because when you wear your gown, I want you to feel not just the love, but the sheer expertise and precision that went into making it.
Investing in the Future of American Bridal Craftsmanship
While my gowns are brought to life by the finest global artisans, my commitment to craftsmanship extends far beyond my own collections. I am deeply invested in training the next generation of sewists, seamstresses, and craftspeople right here in America.
As a proud member of the Urban Manufacturing Alliance, I’m actively engaged in initiatives that support small-scale, high-quality production in the United States. One of the most exciting projects I’m working on is the creation of my own Couture Bridal Training Conservatory in New England—an endeavor already supported by several respected makers, manufacturers, and designers across Connecticut.
We’re making meaningful progress with our local and state governance to bring this vision to life, creating a space where artistry, precision, and heritage techniques will be passed down to the next generation.
So yes—I value Made in America deeply. And I’m committed to being at the forefront of not only producing couture-level gowns, but also ensuring the skills and traditions behind them continue to thrive here at home.
The Designer’s Role—Beyond the Sewing Machine
I began my career sewing every gown myself. But a designer’s true value is not measured by how many stitches she sews—it’s in the vision, the technical direction, the quality control, and the ability to deliver consistent, impeccable results.
My expertise is in translating a sketch into a garment that meets luxury standards, guiding artisans through every detail, and ensuring the gown you receive is worthy of the most important day of your life.
Luxury Is in the Process
Most designers will never tell you the truth about how wedding dresses are made. I will—because the process matters. It matters to your experience. It matters to your confidence. And it matters to the gown you’ll treasure for the rest of your life.
This isn’t just manufacturing.
This is couture—executed through a global network of the best hands in the business.
And when you walk down the aisle in one of my creations, you’re not just wearing a dress. You’re wearing a masterpiece, brought to life by the world’s finest craftsmanship.
With love,
Dani
