1) Where are you from and what inspired you to design wedding dresses?

I am a British citizen of Nigerian descent. I was inspired to design wedding dresses because after going through my Old School couture training at The Paris Academy School of Fashion in London, UK, I found that the labour intensive processes involved in almost every step in creating each bespoke gown and my design aesthetic lent itself to special occasionwear. Bridal and Eveningwear was a natural speciality evolution.

2) Where are you based now and where are your gowns made?

I am now based in Manhattan and my gowns are made here in Manhattan as well.

3) What is your design background?

I started by label Kosibah in September 1991 in London, UK. I trained in both women and menswear but very quickly realised only designing and creating womenswear gave me artistic fulfilment.  

4) Describe your design vision and what is the origin of the name of your label Kosibah?

Right from the beginning of my career I knew I wanted to create beautiful, flattering and extremely well made gowns in the tradition of designers such as Dior, Givenchy and Balenciaga who all really influenced me as a teenager poring through fashion encyclopedias (in the days before Google and the internet). My gowns have clean lines, structural details and lean more to being Classic and timeless rather than hotly on trend.

Kosibah is named in honour of my greatest supporter: My mother, Cosiba. The name Cosiba comes from the Republic of Benin and is the Day Name given to a female child born on a Sunday. However, in deference to the Yoruba tradition of not addressing elders by their first names, I changed the spelling of the company name slightly as a mark of respect.

5) Tell us about the collaboration at Mark Ingram, is this exclusive?

After relocating from London to New York City in 2016, I decided I would like to align my brand with a bridal Atelier that reflects the same values of luxury and client experience as mine. The Mark Ingram Atelier was the perfect match and the couture service I offer is exclusive to the Atelier.

6) What are the price points?

The price points to the couture gowns are from $10,000 to $25,000 though because they are truly bespoke the sky is the limit depending of what the client desires. I offer a White Glove service to some of my brides as per request. This means I dress and style her personally on her wedding day. I get flown to the wedding location if it’s outside of NYC and stay in the same hotel the bride is getting dressed from (or nearby hotel if she is getting dressed from home). I am available to her for the day and my clients find this extremely reassuring.

Also included in the price of a dress is a sketch of the dress that is will be given to the bride as a keepsake.  

7) What is your standout specialty when designing a gown for a bride?

My unique selling proposition is my ability to flatter and enhance the figures of each client through my skills in integral corsetry and structured bodices developed over many years. No bridal client of mine, regardless of size, wears a bra in my gowns. All the support and structure is created within the dress. Also I’m able to take in over 3 to 4 inches off the waistline to recreate the classical hourglass silhouette.  Because I make each dress from scratch for each client I do not deal in dress sizes but individual body measurements.

8) How do you see your business evolving?

I see the Kosibah  developing strategic alliances with complementary brands to produce products such as stationery, fragrance, shoes, jewellery, home décor etc.

9) What celebrities have worn your clothes?

I have worked hard to make Kosibah a truly global brand, but with clientele particularly well represented in the UK, USA, West and South Africa and the Caribbean. My celebrated clients include Lady Janet Boateng, Dianne Abbott MP, Kelly Rowland, Alesha Dixon, Sheila Ferguson, Hollywood actress Indra Ové, Louise Rose and members of several royal families in Nigeria and Ghana.

10) What do you enjoy most about the entire process?

I find this a very difficult question to answer because I have genuine love for almost every aspect of the process for different reasons. I guess the moment where the client tries on the finished gown is the most nerve wracking and exhilarating at the same time. The look of wonder at the shape the gown has created for them never gets old for me. It makes all the hard work and hours put into the gown worth all of it.

Kosibah for Mark Ingram Atelier