A Sustainable Approach To Modern Bridal // Lilia Cass Ceremonial Moves to New Zealand

New Zealand’s newest touchdown- Lilia Cass blesses our shores adding a delightful delicacy to our wedding industry after starting this sustainable modern bridal brand in Sydney, Australia in 2020.

Her divine sense of design and conscious approach, gives us endless opportunities for versatility with her collection of minimal bridal pieces made to be loved and re re-worn. Brushing the body with transparent delicate materials and fabric ties, Lilia Cass Ceremonial encapsulates every modern bride’s dream.

“My own wedding has been the inspiration behind Lilia Cass Ceremonial, a collection of minimal bridal separates, designed to mix, match and layer. Buying an outfit for only one day is something I avoid with my everyday wardrobe and I believe the rules shouldn’t change just because it’s bridal.”

Lilia shared her tales of motivation, inspiration and creation with us, as we look forward to seeing these modern silhouettes on the Wild Hearts Runway next month. She is a dreamer and lover with hopes to create pieces for her brides wardrobes for many nights to fall.

Meet bridal designer Lilia Cass at our Wild Hearts Wedding Fair and on the Runway on September 25th, at The Cloud in Auckland.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of a new kind of wedding fair, with other like-minded vendors and brides-to-be.”

– Lilia Cass

Can you share with us your story behind Lilia Cass?

My own wedding has been the inspiration behind Lilia Cass Ceremonial, a collection of minimal bridal separates, designed to mix, match and layer. Buying an outfit for only one day is something I avoid with my everyday wardrobe and I believe the rules shouldn’t change just because it’s bridal.

What are your favourite memories during business over the years of running a successful bridal company?

My favorite memory would have to be realising how many like-minded brides are out there and how much of an impact our creations make on their big day. An email the day after getting married with a thank you and photos is the best and keeps my motivation high.

How have you had to adapt and overcome the changes in the bridal climate and what have been the hidden treasures of this time?

We launched at the beginning of 2020, which caused a slow start, then once weddings were permitted again, we had a lot of inquiries for elopements. To adapt and help our brides, we worked on our production structure and shortened our lead times on our favorites to cater to impromptu wedding planning.

What are your thoughts on sustainability within business?

Eco-consciousness and sustainability are a key focus, but equally important is to have a design edge and style to love and look incredible wearing. Each garment has been thoughtfully designed with a balance of on point style to look breathtaking on your special day with a minimalistic touch to enable repeat wear-ability with items from your existing wardrobe to create a different look later.

What is your favourite wedding look you have ever designed and what is your most popular gown or outfit to date?

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the core of Lilia Cass Ceremonial is to have the ability to be re-worn and styled to the individual bride’s style. The Aretha Over Dress can also be styled as a Duster. One of our most versatile pieces to date and I can’t wait to see different styling on our brides’ up-coming weddings (And beyond!)

The LWD is an all-time favorite teamed with our sheer blouses. The Short Sleeve Yoko Blouse has been a favorite piece recently with more relaxed weddings happening

Where are the origins of the fabrics you use and what inspires you to source these fabrics for each collection?

Our main fabric wholesaler is based in NZ, softness, luster and natural fiber content are most important. If there is a fun fabric with an eye-catching spot or texture, I will start a design from the fabric

“Lilia Cass Ceremonial will be launching a new collection later this year… think, LCC favorites, reimagined. I’m really excited to be adding some newness to these favorite styles for all our lovely brides planning weddings again!!”

What type of bride are your designs most suited for?

The relaxed and modern bride who wants to be fuss-free and focus on having a fun day. Sustainability or re-wearability and individual style are at the forefront of the checklist when choosing a dress.

What are 2 tips on navigating finding a gown you would share with a bride to be in 2022?

1. Think about the underwear first, if you need to wear a bra rather than tape, speak to your dress designer to choose a style that will allow a bra or can be adjusted to suit.

2. Start with styles you know you love, eg, if you feel amazing in your halterneck tops, this style will also feel amazing on your dress.

Do you stock accessories?

Yes, we make buttery soft silk hair ribbons for a perfect bridal pony or even for the night before to avoid hair kinks

Extra fun question: What is your all time favourite album or song to design to or get your motivated during a slow morning before work?Love the oldies for a bit of motivation; the Eagles, Hootie & The Blowfish are faves.

What are your top 3 pieces of advice to future entrepreneurs in a creative industry?

1. Don’t forget your core values and answer these with every new design.

2. There will always be people out there doing something well already, encourage them, feel inspired by them, and remember there will always be room for you and your unique creativity.

3. Make time to relax, have time off, and indulge in a book, movie, or podcast. sometimes the most unrelated activities help bring the best ideas.

Where is Lilia Cass heading for 2022 and do you have any brand goals that drive you and your process?

Lilia Cass Ceremonial has relocated to New Zealand and we are working on some really exciting new designs… think our favorite pieces, reimagined. Launching later this year and becoming more available across Australia and New Zealand.