Today, their guise is as familiar as its ever been, but the outcome is that of a more modern disposition. Effervescent Liverpudlian Catherine Fisher has taken the design baton from the late great Gill Harvey, creating garments with glamour, intricacy and an underlying rebellious edge that remains true to the essence of EJH.

SO CATHERINE...

Tell us about your journey into becoming a designer at Eliza Jane Howell and your relationship with the late Gill Harvey.

I was fortunate enough to start working will Gill straight out of university and for over 25 years we developed a really close friendship. As well as working with Gill I also worked with other UK occasion wear brands such as Bernshaw. Around 10 years ago I went freelance and started my own business, making bespoke garments (including bridal) for private clients while also studying an MA in Fashion Illustration.

Gill was always thinking and planning ahead and had decided she wanted me to take over as the designer of Eliza Jane Howell. So in a lovely way, it felt so right for me. I had come full circle, back to where it began, to be taking over the label that Gill had created and getting to work with the fabulous team at Eliza Jane Howell.

Tell us about the new Legacy of Love collection and how this embodies the signature styling and craftsmanship of an Eliza Jane Howell piece?

Legacy of Love was my vision of continuing what Gill and the team had created, so every dress is individual, every beaded design is hand-drawn in-house and then hand-beaded by skilled craftsmen in our ateliers.

EVERY PEICE TAKES MONTHS TO PRODUCE, AND THIS CRAFTSMANSHIP COMBINED WITH THE ELEGANCE OF OUR DRESSES EMBODIES EVERYTHING AN ELIZA JANE HOWELL PIECE IS.

ANDREA CUTTS, ELIZA JANE HOWELL BRIDAL

What new accents and flourishes can we expect to see?

There is a real feeling of lightness and playfulness in the new collection; statement sleeves, soft feathers and touches of colour all mixed with new shorter lengths – which add a real point of difference this season. But of course this is an Eliza Jane Howell collection, so expect to see exquisitely beaded designs that complement and work so well with the new silhouettes introduced.

What is your favourite piece in the collection?

What is at the core of every gown design at Eliza Jane Howell?

The individuality, the attention to detail and the craftsmanship is absolutely our essence. We want every bride who wears one of our dresses to feel not just special on her big day, but like she has invested in something to be treasured for the future – a heirloom to be passed on. Fashion changes but elegance and style never dates.

What’s your favourite fabric to work with?

I love silk georgette and mesh jersey as they provide a beautiful light base for the beaded designs. Also the fabrics we use have a touch of stretch so they feel wonderful when worn.

Give us a trend that we can expect to see a lot more of in 2024 within the new season gowns.

Soft pretty colours will come to the fore, not just the expected white or pearl gowns. We ave loved playing with colour this collection and you can expect to see shades such as “tickle me pink”, “soft gold” and “nude” with flashes of silver and antique crystals. We are also able to offer a bespoke service on a selection of our dresses, so for the Eliza Jane Howells bride there is an amazing colour selection to choose from!

On the hunt for the newest bridal styles that are bold, glamorous and trend-setters? Check out our dedicated Bridal Fashion Space on the blog!