Anyone familiar with the world of wedding fashion knows Anne Barge. Countless brides have walked the wedding aisle in a gown by Anne Barge, and even more brides-to-be are envisioning themselves in one of her creations on their dream day. Since 1999, the talented designer behind these gowns has been none other than Anne herself. Going forward, this will stay the same. Anne will be seen at her Bridal Market event this week and at her Trunk Show next week at Kleinfeld (of TV’s “Say Yes To The Dress”). And- most importantly- Anne’s guiding philosophy of “good design is timeless” will remain unchanged.
The change happening at Anne Barge Bridal is behind the seams. Longtime Anne Barge Executive Vice President, Shawne Jacobs, and her husband, Steven Jacobs, are the brand’s new owners. Anne Barge will continue as Creative Director. Shawne joined Anne Barge Inc. in 2002 while studying fashion design and marketing at The American Intercontinental University in Atlanta. Over the thirteen-plus years that followed, Shawne worked alongside the brand’s founder, managing every facet of the business. Says Shawne: “Having worked my entire career for Anne and her company, it is such an honor to be trusted with her amazing legacy. I am so excited for the future of the Anne Barge brand in the bridal industry and beyond.”
As Shawne and her husband assume ownership, they do so with an important endorsement; “I’ve known for years that the Jacobs were the ideal and logical choice to keep our line moving forward and this long-anticipated transition has been seamless,” observes Anne Barge, adding: “Shawne’s creative talent coupled with Steven’s intuitive feel for business are the perfect combination to assure continued growth.”
This week, as New York welcomes Bridal Market, Shawne, Steven, and Anne will jointly present their latest bridal collection under the new ownership. As this new chapter begins, Shawne and Steven have more news for the Bridal world and plans for their brand; “For the first time, we will be showing our Anne Barge Couture and Blue Willow Bride line at the London White Gallery in May of this year. We hope to increase our exposure in the UK and the broader European market.”
Adds Shawne: “Additionally, We have always designed custom evening wear gowns for mothers of the bride and for individuals with a special event in mind. I focused on evening wear while studying fashion design in college and I expect this to be an area where the brand will expand in the future.”
Look for images of the new Anne Barge collection on the Sophisticated Weddings Blog, and in Volume II of the2015 Sophisticated Weddings: New York Edition, scheduled for release this coming June. The magazine is available for purchase at most New York area newsstands and online;www.SophisticatedWeddingsNY.com/Buy.html. In the meantime, enjoy this teaser photo (below) of one of the dresses from the collection that will debut this week.
Teaser from Anne Barge’s newest collection