When it comes to shopping for a wedding gown, no one can quite compare to the experience at the world-renowned Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier. A New York icon, Mark Ingram has been a retailer of wedding looks for over two decades, also designing his own bridal collection since 2019.
With a new fall 2024 collection and a new store at the DuMont building, Ingram is celebrating his important milestone and preparing to dress the next generation of brides. To mark this next chapter, Ingram said that the new physical store location will help to propel the brand forward in making the bridal gown shopping experience a special and personal one.
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The new space itself is a modern reflection of Ingram’s historic family home, where he lived for 44 years in Hamilton Heights. Within the art deco and neo-gothic building’s atelier, he was able to recreate that inspiring bygone era; working together with his chief operations officer, Dawn Bromander, they used his love for interior design such as wallpaper, decorative moldings, and a refined color palette to create an inviting yet functional retail environment.
As for what makes the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier special, Ingram explained that the new space “allows the grace to entertain our brides and their families in a manner that is befitting to the occasion.”
When choosing a retail location, Bromander and Ingram wanted to make sure that the Mark Ingram brides have perspective, lighting, mirrors, and complimentary finishes to make their gown selections as comfortable as possible. Since bridal shopping is a onetime emotional moment for most, the new space is helping to elevate the overall, often stressful, experience to embrace more than simply picking out a dress — Ingram wants to have this selection process as one that brides will cherish as a fond, lifetime memory.
Ingram uniquely serves as both a bridal retailer and a bridal designer, which affords him insider knowledge into both worlds. “When I started my career at Bonwit Teller and Bergdorf Goodman, merchants had offices on or very near the selling floor of their departments,” said Ingram. “The daily interaction with the customers and our sales staff made our buys more educated and successful. When I was in couture, we even bought with specific customers in mind. This is a philosophy that has been ingrained in me for a very long time. You must be in front of and interact with your customer to understand what she needs and wants, especially in bridal.”
Ingram’s travels to Italy — where all his gowns are crafted — Paris, Spain, and his love and history of New York City serve as a constant source of inspiration. For the Mark Ingram fall 2024 bridal collection, movement in the form of lines and embroideries that suggest motion are key design elements. Ingram stepped out of his comfort zone to incorporate more fashion and editorial looks but still continued to design with a sense of tradition.
Over the past two decades, many new clients have been through word-of-mouth, and now the atelier anticipates the daughters of past Mark Ingram brides, an experience he truly is humbled by, knowing his name and legacy withstand the test of time.
Ingram said that social media has “demanded that I elevate my game in terms of my merchandising assortment, buys, and price range.” However, his mission to dress the next generation of sophisticated and accomplished women remains true.
Furthermore, the old-school elegance ethos throughout the new atelier comes from Ingram’s grandparents taking him on experiences on Fifth Avenue. Aside from having exquisite taste, Ingram was exposed to quality clothes and luxury retail experience throughout his youth.
“I want my brides and mothers to feel that very experience that has been missing from retail for quite some time,” said Ingram. “It’s not about stuffiness or formality; it’s about what makes the experience memorable. And when the bride is done, we want her and her mom to come back and back for their future special occasion gowns as well.”
Ingram’s pride for his family is evident, citing that their guidance, love, and support were what helped him succeed in his accomplishments. Ingram said he wished that his mother and father were still around to see the next chapter of his story — as they were proud of his success and were frequent guests to the atelier.
“I wanted this new atelier to reflect my history and pride,” Ingram told Fairchild Studios. “A wall of my family portraits, dating back to 1907, will continue to be a fixture on these new walls, celebrating an amazing African American family.”