A wedding dress is often the most meaningful garment a person will ever wear. Long after the reception is over, it lives on in countless photos and fond memories that last a lifetime. Like so much of the fashion industry, however, bridal attire has become enmeshed in the rapid trend cycles and ever-disposable ethos of fast fashion—a fundamental misalignment with the significance of the occasion. Atelier Bianca, the newly opened bridal showroom on Hudson’s Warren Street, offers an alternative rooted in slow fashion, couture craftsmanship, and deep personalization.
Designer and owner Bianca De Pietro considers wedding gowns a rare moment for artistry. “Bridal really is the only wearable couture that most people will obtain at some point in their life,” she says. “People who want to get away from fast fashion, and have an actual vision for their dress that is classic yet still contemporary deserve to wear a gown that truly reflects their personality.”
Atelier Bianca, which opened in August, marks a homecoming for De Pietro, who spent her early years in Red Hook before leaving for New York City to study performing arts and later fashion design at Philadelphia University and Central Saint Martins in London. An affinity for avant-garde silhouettes and theatrical detailing soon guided her to bridal, where couture methods and emotional resonance intersect. “I love using couture techniques—hand embellishment, detailing, and high-end novelty fabrics,” she says.
Before opening in Hudson, De Pietro spent more than a decade running Toile, her Philadelphia boutique dedicated to independent, ethically minded designers. That ethos forms the foundation of Atelier Bianca. Every custom gown designed by De Pietro is made on-site using natural, high-quality materials like silk and lace sourced from longstanding suppliers in Italy and France. “All of my dresses I make myself, in-house, with as minimal waste as possible,” she explains.
Brides may select from De Pietro’s own customizable collections—about 30 gowns designed to be personalized—or opt for full bespoke. She also carries select European designers, including Ricca Sposa and Yedyna, chosen for their intricate handwork and exceptional fabrics.
“The attention to detail and the quality of their fabrics and lace and applique is just incredible, especially for the price point,” says De Pietro. “They’re glamorous, romantic, and very accentuating.” Necklines, backlines, sleeves, tulle color, applique, and beading can all shift to reflect a bride’s individuality, she says.
A standout of Atelier Bianca is De Pietro’s two-in-one gown concepts: minis concealed beneath soft overskirts, or silhouettes that transform between ceremony and reception. “Most brides are choosing to wear something different for their reception,” she says. “But often, they’re spending all this money on a wedding gown and then they change into a hundred-dollar jumpsuit. By thoughtfully restructuring the dress, you get to wear this incredible gown all evening and you get two looks for the price of one.”
The process of customizing a gown begins with a 90-minute consultation appointment. Altering an existing gown from the showroom’s collection or reimagining a family heirloom typically spans three to six months. Full custom gowns require six to nine months, progressing through collaborative sketching and fabric selection to muslin fittings and silhouette refinements to fabrication in final materials and detailed embellishment sessions before final fitting and pickup. Simple evening or destination styles begin near $1,200, while most made-to-order bridal gowns range from $3,000 to $5,000. Full custom commissions begin around $5,000.
De Pietro is also planning a few trunk shows at the Atelier Bianca for the spring, offering brides a chance to see and try on dresses from the showroom’s expanded collection. Beyond bridal, Atelier Bianca produces one-of-a-kind evening gowns, from red carpet looks to gala gowns to stage attire for performers.
In choosing to relocate her studio to Hudson, she hopes to make the city a destination for ethical bridal. “Trends come and go so quickly,” she says. “You see the same thing in every store. Bridal really needs a more customizable approach so you can find something you love that makes you feel how you want to feel.”
