Atelier Andrée Ciccarelli is a dedicated design studio with a vision to revolutionize the fashion and bridal industry through transparency and eco-conscious practices. Our pride lies in the meticulous hands-on process that shapes each garment, ensuring that every production step meets our standards of craftsmanship.
We firmly believe in supporting our local community and have intentionally chosen to collaborate with manufacturing facilities owned and operated by inspiring women entrepreneurs, all within the Northeast region. In this way, we contribute to the empowerment of our community while crafting exceptional apparel.
In a world where the fashion industry faces daunting waste and sustainability challenges, we have made it our mission to be part of the solution. With each design, we're actively addressing these issues by creating custom and made-to-order, contemporary garments that embrace natural and recycled fibers, employ low-waste pattern-making methods, and adhere to slow fashion manufacturing practices.
Our commitment to sustainability is ingrained in every fiber of our creations. We believe in creating fashion that's kind to both people and the planet. Each garment is a testament to our dedication to a more sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly future within the fashion industry. We're taking one step at a time, one garment at a time, towards a brighter tomorrow. When you purchase a garment from Atelier Andrée Ciccarelli, you're not just investing in a piece of clothing; you're investing in a better future. With every purchase, comes a shared responsibility between our company and our clients to drive meaningful change and build a more responsible world.
Andrée is a graduate of Parsons the New School for Design in New York City and is trained in couture techniques, lingerie design, bridal design, and garment production. She has worked in the lingerie and bridal industry since 2012 before starting her namesake label.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Made to Order” mean?
All of our items are “Made to Order”. This means we do not start making any items until they are purchased and we have your size and measurements on hand. This allows us to hold no inventory, ensuring sustainability at every step of the way.
Where do you make your garments?
All of our pattern making, cutting, sewing, quality control, and packaging is done locally, in Boston, MA and New York, NY. Our manufactures are women-owned and women-run. Our gowns and accessories are produced one at a time by fairly paid seamstresses.
Creating custom and made-to-order garments minimizes over-production, surplus inventory, and waste compared to mass production. Manufacturing locally also allows us to constantly take stock of excess fabric and materials from the items that we create.
What materials are your gowns made out of?
All of our gowns and accessories are made from 100% certified silk sourced from a company located in the USA. We do offer the option for brides to choose custom deadstock fabrics if they are interested in a custom color or material.
Why silk?
We chose to work with 100% silk fabric versus other options available in the market because silk fabric is the strongest natural fiber. Silk is Recyclable and Biodegradable. It takes about 1 to 5 years for a fabric made out of 100% silk to decompose, depending on the conditions. This is much faster than the time it takes for synthetic textiles to break down. This does not mean that your gown will decompose in 1-5 years. It will last for decades if cared for and stored properly. To read more about the benefits of silk fabric, please click the link here. You can also read about how silk is made here.
What is deadstock fabric?
Deadstock fabric is surplus fabric from a fabric mill's production run, that is unwanted by the brand that originally commissioned the fabric.
Deadstock fabric is used if a bride is interested in a different fabric or color from our traditional shade of ivory and the fabrics that we stock. We are then able to rescue these fabrics before they are sent to a landfill. This allows us to purchase small quantities of fabric for your custom gown.
Do you make fully customized garments?
Yes! If you are interested in commissioning a fully custom garment, we are happy to meet with you for a design consultation. Please email us directly at atelier@andreeciccarelli.com to set up a consultation.
Do you do garment reconstruction on vintage gowns?
At this time, we do not offer garment reconstruction.
How do I care for my silk gown?
We highly recommend having your dress cleaned by professional dry cleaners with experience working with silk fabrics. Please follow the link here to read detailed instructions on how to care for silk from our silk manufacturer. Please note that Andrée Ciccarelli is not responsible for any damage done to the dress due to dry cleaning or hand washing.
How do I store my gown post-wedding?
We recommend that you have your gown professionally dry cleaned and preserved. Common preservations methods include wrapping the cleaned dress in acid-free tissue paper and placing it into a museum-quality storage box. The box should be sturdy enough to eliminate light, heat, dust, insects, and accidents. Please note that Andrée Ciccarelli is not responsible for any damage done to the dress due to poor preservation.
Do you still make lingerie?
While the bulk of our business in now geared towards bridal and evening wear, we do take on a limited number of lingerie commissions every year. If you are intersted, please email is directly at atelier@andreeciccarelli.com. You can view our archive of lingerie designs by following the link here.
What is Sustainable Fashion?
Sustainable fashion refers to clothing and accessories that are designed, produced, and sold in an environmentally friendly, and eco-conscious way. “Sustainable fashion is a process of change in the ways of thinking and practices of design, production, communication, wearing and enjoying fashion, that values diversity, prosperity, and well-being of both people and the environment. It highlights the interdependence of individual, social, environmental, cultural, and economic implications of fashion, and so questions the status quo of the industry that still prioritizes profit over vital social and environmental concerns.” - Conde Nast, The Sustainable Fashion Glossary
What is the difference between “Slow Fashion” & “Fast Fashion”?
Slow fashion is an awareness and approach to fashion that considers the processes and resources required to make clothing. It advocates for buying better-quality garments that will last longer and valuing fair treatment of people, animals, and the planet.
Fast fashion is a term used to describe a highly profitable business model based on replicating catwalk trends and high-fashion designs and mass-producing them at a low cost.
Here at Andrée Ciccarelli, we advocate Slow Fashion every step of the way.
Do you offer alterations?
At this time, we do not offer alterations on any of our gowns or items.
What is the timeline of my order?
Our production time is 10 - 12 weeks standard for bridal gowns and 3 - 4 weeks for ready-to-wear. Please see our rush fees and options below. Please keep in mind that this does not account for alterations. Alterations take an additional 1-2 months.
Do you offer Rush Orders? (Bridal Only)
Our rush order schedule is as follows.
8 Weeks — $150, 6 Weeks — $250, 4 Weeks — $350. Unfortunately, we cannot offer rushes under 4 weeks.
Do you offer sales or discounts?
At this time, we do not offer sales or discounts.
Can I become a stockist for Atelier Andrée Ciccarelli?
If you are interested in becoming an Atelier Andrée Ciccarelli stockist, please email us at atelier@andreeciccarelli.com.
Do you rent your gowns or accessories?
If you are an industry professional, ie: Photographers, Wedding Planners, and Stylists only, we will consider renting a select number of our items to you for styled shoot purposes. Loans will require a rental fee and deposit. To obtain more information about our rentals to industry professionals, please send us at atelier@andreeciccarelli.com If you are not an industry professional, we do not offer rentals for personal use.