UNVEILED: UK’s most expensive Asian wedding dress made in Birmingham

It has a price tag of £100,000 and is the most expensive Asian wedding outfit ever produced.

Encrusted with diamonds, the sumptuous white wedding lengha weighs more than 30 kilos has been made by celebrity couturist Sati Takhar.

Sati, who is based in Birmingham’s Soho Road, will unveil the outfit at The Asiana Bridal Show in London tomorrow.

The traditional Asian bridal outfit is so valuable that it is being kept in a glass box and watched over by a security guard.

“We’ve created the ultimate fantasy, an outfit that is so exquisite we’re placing it inside a glass box!” says Sati, 32, who has been a bridal designer for more than 10 years.

His inspiration came from watching the Victoria’s Secret lingerie show last year where Brazilian models Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima took to the catwalk at London’s Earl’s Court wearing $2 million Dream Angels Fantasy Bras.

The bras featured 16,000 rubies, diamonds and sapphires, all of which are strung together with 18-carat gold.

“I’ve seen and heard everything when it comes to weddings and the Victoria’s Secret show got me thinking,” says Sati.

“I have clients who have flown in Kim Kardashian’s make-up artist in from New York to do their bridal make-up.

“The Asian wedding market is worth a lot. I was inspired to try something similar to the Victoria’s Secret show in bridalwear.”

The decadent white silk lengha (a traditional skirt and top) features an embroidered strapless corset and full-flared skirt, finished with a veil around the head and shoulders.

It is a collaboration with elite Indian jewellery brand Dhir Diamond Jewellers, who have provided the jewels for the gown.

London jewellery designer Vansh Dhir says: “Diamonds aren’t just meant for wedding rings!

“In this creative collaboration we are showcasing innovative ideas for combining your jewellery with your outfit.

“It’s a masterpiece that sets the benchmark for what is possible in the world of weddingwear.”

Worth more than £3 billion a year, the British Asian wedding industry is the second most successful area of entrepreneurship among South Asians living in the UK after the restaurant and catering business.

New research by Asiana Wedding Magazine shows the average Asian couple in the UK spends upwards of £50,000 on a wedding with lowest figures being around £25,000 – well above the average price of a British wedding which is currently £21,000.

Some spend more than a million pounds on their nuptials, extravagant occasions that can be celebrated for several days and attended by upwards of 1,000 guests. All of Sati’s designs are bespoke and normally sell for around £3,000.

“Not all of our outfits costs £100,000,” says Sati. “But when a brides puts on one of our outfits she feels £100,000.”

Sati goes through the entire process with each bride, from choosing fabrics and sketching designs in front of her to making a toile mock-up of the outfit in cotton for her try on ahead of the final fitting.

“I get to know the brides well throughout the process,” he adds. “One brought her dad to the toile fitting the other day and he recorded it with a camcorder. It was sweet.”

For Sati, the logistics of displaying a £100,000 gown have been just as intense as coming up with the design.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” he adds. “It’s a large amount of money so we’ve had to make sure we’ve got all the relevant insurances and security for it on the day.”

Sati’s design will be seen by 10,000 visitors at the The Asiana Bridal Show at London’s Lancaster Hotel today.

• For more information, visit www.satitakhar.com and www.asianabridalshow.com

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Survey reveals most popular ways to romance a partner this Valentine’s Day

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Staffordshire, Friday 6th February: When it comes to what to get a loved one for Valentine’s Day it’s often a straight choice of whether to “go traditional” or “think outside the box”. Overwhelmingly it appears as though Brits are in the former camp, according to a survey of 550 males and females conducted by Sales Alert site LoveSales.com.

The survey asked users what they think people really want for Valentine’s Day 2015 to get an insight into people’s romantic side, and discovered that traditional ideas are still the most popular choice by far.

92% of respondents chose one of what could be considered a “clichéd” Valentines surprise, with a mix of options that would suit any budget.

Unsurprisingly being taken out for a romantic meal in a restaurant took the top spot. When it came to splashing the cash, a weekend away was the second most popular idea, with 10% of respondents opting to leave the stress of modern life behind for some quality time.

A spa break and pampering was next with 8%, which goes to prove that you can’t beat being the centre of attention for a while, especially at the expense of your partner.

Perhaps surprisingly, Lingerie was not a popular option, with just 1% of respondents choosing to spice up their relationships with something a bit more racy.

Perfume or aftershave seemed a better bet with 3% opting for their favourite fragrance or perhaps a bit of a change of scent, but handbags, shoes or clothes seems the safest bet for a purchase with 5% opting for a fancy new wardrobe accessory over anything else.

The clichés are still a good choice if there’s a bit less to spend though. Flowers (7%) and chocolates (6%) both made the list in respectable positions, suggesting this is one time of year where you can get away with a lack of imagination.

Even on a tighter budget, LoveSales.com customers still offered plenty of food for thought when it comes to treating your other half. Being cooked for (7%) needn’t cost a lot, but is still a popular treat, and a romantic 10% simply wanted to spend quality time with their partners, no matter what it is they do.

Time away from the kids also made an appearance with 5% of the votes, and 7% simply wanted a surprise or an outing with a difference, so there are still points to be scored for imagination.

And for those who find Valentine’s Day to be more of a chore, spare a thought for the 3% of respondents that said all they want is a partner.

“Our survey was meant as a bit of fun but showed that generally we’re quite traditional as Brits when it comes to ideas for Valentine’s Day” said Keir McConomy, Founder of LoveSales.com. “It’s also interesting to see that people have found ways to celebrate on all levels of budget, and in some cases don’t expect anything particularly extravagant at all.”

In fact just 8% of respondents chose a slightly less obvious option, with some of the more creative being a hamster, a rose bush, and gardening tools to do the weeding. Perhaps traditional is the best bet after all.

List in full:
Valentines treat: %
Romantic Meal: 11.1
Weekend Away: 9.8
Time with Other Half: 9.5
Spa Break: 8
Other: 7.8
Flowers: 6.9
To be Cooked for: 6.5
Chocolates: 5.5
Clothes/Handbags/Shoes: 4.9
Time Away from the Kids: 4.7
Jewellery: 4.5
A Trip Out: 4.5
Perfume: 3.3
A Partner: 2.7
Watch a Film: 2.4
Surprise: 2.4
Engaged: 2.4
Champagne: 1.3
Lingerie: 1.1
Hot Air Balloon Trip: 0.7

LoveSales most popular Valentines ideas for Brits 2015

-ENDS-

Press Contact
For further information, please contact:

Michelle Cross
The PR Room
Tel: +44 (0) 845 094 2902
Michelle.cross@theprroom.co.uk

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