An Edith Élan bride possesses style and confidence, and exudes a joie de vivre. She is unaffected by passing trends. And instead seeks effortlessly charming designs that withstand the test of time.
Who is Edith Élan?
Edith Élan is an independent wedding dress designer based in the Chicago whose creative soul are the designers Gretchen Anderson and Lourdes Castañeda. The bridal gowns are thoughtfully designed and made with love so that each dress is a perfect balance of modern sophistication and vintage charm.
So then, who is Edith Élan?
"Edith Élan is strength. She is style. She is vivacity. She is energy. She's an embodiment of who we are as a brand, and a reflection of our brides. She was created for the bride with élan." - Gretchen & Lourdes
And while Edith Élan is neither of the designers, she is simultaneously both of them. The name itself came about after a long day of brainstorming. It's both an homage to the place where Gretchen and Lourdes met, and to an extraordinary woman who, in her own right, was a pioneer in her field.
Edith Élan was established in October of 2014. But that’s not really where the story starts. Gretchen and Lourdes met their Junior year of college at Philadelphia University (now Jefferson University) where they both studied Fashion Design. As students, they came to rely on each other for support and advice. Two things which they still do to this day in running Edith Élan. It was during their Senior year that they talked about one day starting their own company.
After graduating in 2009, they went their separate ways, but kept in touch. In the years before launching Edith Élan, they each held various positions in the fashion industry. At one point, they each were bridal consultants! Those invaluable experiences and the hands-on education, along with their unique design aesthetics, became the foundations for the brand.
In 2014, they both found themselves at a point in their lives where they were ready to start a business. It was a “right place and right time” kind of thing. But why bridal? It had been some years since they had been a part of the bridal industry and they were ready to jump back in. They knew their designs would be unlike any others: effortlessly feminine styles in timeless silhouettes with modern lines and vintage details. And like the saying goes, from there the rest is history!
