Creating the Gown with Patrice Catan and Designer Jimme Huang

Patrice Catan:

Hi Jimme, welcome to my podcast. I'd like to introduce you to the audience and discuss with them the expertise you have in fashion designing wedding gowns. I've known you over the years, you started with prom, you went to pageant, and now you have one of the finest lined in the industry. Tell us a little bit about how you got started.

Jimme Huang:

So I got started because I always felt like I want to have full control what I did, I co-designed with my mother when we first started the business. And when I decided to go on my own to start at ViennaProm, I wanted to be able to have a very clear direction. A very targeted audience that I wanted to promote to and stay very focused on what I do. So that's why I started this whole division at the time.

Patrice Catan:

When you design Jimme, what it really inspires you, is it the time of year of the fashion? What the fashion is used for? The type of client that we're dealing with in today's changes in fashion? What motivates you to come up with these gorgeous, gorgeous fashions?

Jimme Huang:

I think to me, it's always a challenge. Your client, your season, your designs is on an ever changing on a daily basis. And a lot of time I get asked this questions, it's like, "What inspired you this season?" Personally, during my design, there's no season because I'm constantly getting inspiration on a daily basis. I'm constantly design on a daily basis. The only time for me to have a season is when I finally sit down and look at all the inspiration, all the sketch and all the things I accumulate throughout the year. And then I decide it, "Okay, this is going to go into spring and then that goes into fall." And stuff like that. Because a lot of the times that I see the biggest challenge with a lot of designers is they push things into in a certain timeframe of certain periods, to trying to come up with a design. We're humans that does, sometimes we get inspired, sometimes we don't. So when you restrict into such a small timeframe, a lot of times you're going to have a hard time coming up with things.

Patrice Catan:

I agree Jimme. And I think you're very smart not to limit it to a season. The reason being is it also limits the exposure of the item. People think that different fabrics are for different seasons, it's really not necessary. But while we're talking, what really interests me is the fabrics in today's market. What is different about the fabrics today that entices the young girls getting married to purchase these certain fabrics?

Jimme Huang:

I think that with our brides these days, everybody has some type of fabric in mind by the time they come to the store. You have girls that want lightweight, whimsical, flowy. Then you have these traditional brides that want to have the classic satins and even tapestries or even some of the more traditional heavier material. And then you have the new Gen Z that comes in and say, "You know what? I want to do something for the future. I want to save a planet. I want to do these," kind of things to bond with the current trend that every industry is trying to help to keep up our planet green.

Patrice Catan:

No, I agree with everything you're saying and I think it's very interesting as probably one of the most creative designers I've seen over 40 years. Looking not only at your designs but your photography, the gowns talk to you. This is very important from my aspect as a consultant that a bride comes in and says, "This fits my personality. What do you have for me? These are the designs I'm looking for." This is what creates who you are today who is one of the most popular creative people in the bridal industry. And it all started from pageant.

Jimme Huang:

Promise [inaudible 00:04:49].

Patrice Catan:

And all you did, you decreased the jewels, is all you did in some cases. Okay, let me ask you another question. Everybody goes, "What's the trends for 2023 and 24? Let's broaden it. A lot of things just don't die in one year. Lot of things are tradition. Is some tradition coming back or are we going in a different direction?

Jimme Huang:

Right now what's trending, a lot of what we've been seeing of the brides are requesting is a lot plainer and simpler gowns. They are all looking into where the gowns are cut in such a unique way, it emphasizes the curvature, their body shapes and things like that. And then of course then you have the traditional that wants to be jeweled and stuff like that. But a large growth in the trend of having a lot simpler, it's just strictly the cut, strictly the fabric. And they want to keep the focus on themself and have the gowns emphasize their shape.

Patrice Catan:

Yes, I could understand that. Now with the full figured brides, this is always a very temperamental subject. We as bridal consultants always tried to make the bride understand that you are also beautiful, but there's different styles that work for different body sizes. And I see with a lot of your designs that you're going in that direction.

Jimme Huang:

Right, correct. We have a very general following the industry that mermaid is good for certain type of body, your A lines, your shape and stuff like that. But however, with the recent request and things like that, that we actually gone from size zero to 20 offering, now we've gone to zero to 30. The reason is that our gowns are constructed in such a way that even going beyond the standard sizing chart, that we are actually, be able to still work on the brides body between those sizes.

Patrice Catan:

Yes. And that's what makes you so unique in the industry. What's the most popular color now of a wedding gown?

Jimme Huang:

We are having only two type of combinations. We have ivory nude, which is ivory lace, and then we use the nude lining on the bottom and then we have ivory on ivory. We are still fairly new to the industry and I'm a type of person who want to keep everything lean and focused. So until we get to a certain growth by the current time we're just growing in such a rapid pace. We want to keep everything as straightforward as possible.

Patrice Catan:

Yes, I agree. That's a good business move. I appreciate the amount of talent that you have, what you brought to the industry. Can you add anything else in the bridal world that stands out?

Jimme Huang:

I think that the biggest thing that we have seen and what we have done that brides appreciate, is that in our gown designs we offer a lot of accessories that's included in their package. So we have coat shoulders with sleeves, overall trains and the flyaway trains and stuff like that. And then a lot of times these are all included in our pricing. I tell brides that, "Hey, when you pay for a account and you go work with your photographer, you only get this much range of poses and looks and stuff like that. But when you have coat shoulders, when you have sleeves, when you have veils, when you have trains, that's all together.

You're going to have five or six looks with just one gown. And all these are included in our pricing and also all these accessories when we design and made them, they're all removable. So they're snap or a hook and night on so you can take it off. So this is not of one look and here's another look." So at the end of the day after the wedding, all you have memory from is your photography, your videography, and then the gown. So I think it's very important if a gown that's designed in today's world that gives a bride a multiple look, it is the most value they can have.

Patrice Catan:

Yes, I agree. It's almost like paper dolls when I was growing up as a little girl, you added and you subtract and you created this little paper figure. And the brides today have the pleasure of taking a design and creating it just for them in so many words. So each gown is a design, but it's also their own design when they add or subtract something from the gown. And when you do photography, you're correct, Jimme, you can do all kinds of things. If you have all those components with the gown, that if you limit it, your components and your choices are not as long. Anything else you can tell us about your success in the business, how your photography went? I'm very impressed with that. I watch you all the time and I've known you for many, many years. The photography for bridal is phenomenal and every time I see it, it talks to me. You got people laying down in water. How the heck did you get them in there or is it a fake?

Jimme Huang:

With this shoot, having models swim underwater or in the ocean in a prom gown, ones back in El Casco. I think that the key thing is, I'm very hands-on, from the minute I have inspiration to sketch. From productions to bringing the gown to do Trump shows, fashion shows, photo shoots and everything. I'm a, sally to say, I'm building my team, but I was one-man band. I've done anything being right there. And every design that I have, it has a story. It has a reason to be in this collection.

A lot of times, like I said, when we sit down we have 50 gowns that comes in. Maybe sometimes we'll only put 12 gowns or 20 gowns fit into the season, this collection, to tell the story. So the last season, we've gone to the White Sand Dunes National Park. This is in New Mexico and it's 110 degrees out there. We're out there for three days and just sweating off and then create this-

Patrice Catan:

Only you?

Jimme Huang:

... I can't say only me, but what I'm saying is, I'm there because I want to understand the look I want. The team I have is all very young. They are in the thirties, they have the same vision. The models, they've been working with me since they're 14, 15 years old. And they understand that the vision, the look, it's a whole package. It started from a sketch, but it ends with anybody that's involved, understand what I'm looking for.

Patrice Catan:

Well no, you're absolutely correct. And you said something there that was very important. Your dresses tell a story. And I always tell my brides that your wedding is a play. It tells a story and you have to tell the story in your words and what you visualize as the bride for the day. And a story starts with picking the design of the gown and from there, fashioning the rest of your event according to the story in the gown.

Jimme Huang:

Correct.

Patrice Catan:

So as we've been talking, it really steps out in front of me that your creativity is really beyond belief because you're a hands-on person, just like I was in the retail end of the business.

Jimme Huang:

Correct.

Patrice Catan:

I was always on the floor. I always watched what was going on and I needed to have the last word on how something was finished. And it didn't matter how much time I took because the realization is, I want to be the best for the client. You want to be the best for the salons.

Jimme Huang:

Correct.

Patrice Catan:

And you are the best for the salons. You will continue to be the best. Tell us what's in the future.

Jimme Huang:

I think that to me, I said this, is that our line, it has to be an experience. And I tell people this and people say, "Why don't you sell it on the internet? Sell it on a store." I said, "I can't tell my story through the internet unfortunately, even though it is the internet era and stuff like that." I said, "The only way for me to spend all this time and effort to create these products, I want the girl to cry in front of the mirror the first time they put on these gowns. I want them to feel like they were there at the right store that understood what she's looking for. And knew her fairytale and she was able to get that feeling at the store."

So with all my authorized dealers, I personally been to 90% of them. I personally been on the floor, work with [inaudible 00:14:44] , done my front shows, and I have the feeling that they are the right people to represent the line. And that's how we continue to do the business. I don't want to just put a product on the floor. We can do that. There are plenty of products out there, you pick and you go. But to me, it's not, I want to be... Every time I do a trunk show, a lot of brides just be like, "Oh my God, you're so fun to work with. I want to invite you to my wedding." Because they want to share their experience. They want to share the joy and happiness with somebody that's a part of the experience. And I want that to be every bride.

Patrice Catan:

Well what you're really doing, Jimme, and it goes back to what I did over a 40-year period in the bridal industry. I wanted to be part of that girl's wedding. I wanted her to have a memory. It's important for you and the bride, as a designer that you're creating the memory and you're also an advisor to them of what they need to know to feel comfortable and anxiety free. Too many girls today get too stressed over this, that or the other thing.

Most of my podcasts are going to be, you don't need to have anxiety, you need to have fun. You need to enjoy the experience and feel comfortable with everybody you're working with. Again, you live your dream, you live your passion. It's a way of life. It is not an occupation, it's a way of life. Mine is a way of life, I knew no different. I went from the craft industry to the fashion industry. And in both of them they merged, but they were my way of life. And this is where your success is in because your heart and soul is in it. And it's not necessarily a numbers game.

Jimme Huang:

No.

Patrice Catan:

We know we're running a business, we know we need dollars and cents to make it operate properly, but our viewpoint on it is very different. And everybody doesn't have that. So if a bride sees you at a salon or sees your merchandise online, she can feel comfortable that what you're doing is for the sake of the bride to have an anxiety free day. And to fit the culture and the style of what the girl wants.

Jimme Huang:

I always believe in this and early year in my career, people tell me says, "If you have the right product and you present it the right way and the money will come, it will." If you have what you got, people is going to buy it. As long as you're consistent and you're making people happy, money will come.

Patrice Catan:

Well, you're correct. And Jimmy, I think what's important to us, I've known you over the years, is to be respected by people because we're ethical. We say what we believe, we don't sugarcoat it. I know when I had the salon, if a girl put on a dress and I knew it was totally wrong, I said, "Take it off." And she'd look at me like I'm crazy. And I said, "Honey, you can't go down the aisle with this. It doesn't look right. This one over here is the one you should get." And 90% of the time it was less money than the one she had on. The object wasn't what I sold, the object is what I sold right.

Jimme Huang:

Correct.

Patrice Catan:

And it starts with creativity that you can give us as a designer to be able to educate our clients when they do come into the salon.

Jimme Huang:

You're right.

Patrice Catan:

You're one of my favorites. I knew you when your little ones were knee high to a grasshopper and they were running around the showroom. And I remember saying to you, "Your designs are so intricate in pageant. You really, really need to go into bridal." And you did, you're successful, you're building, you're artistic, but you're also down to earth. And today this is what we need.

Jimme Huang:

It took 10 years. People have told me to do bridal for 10 years and I always said, "Either I'm not ready for it." Or I say, "How much fun can you have with one color?" So that's what took 10 years for me to wrap my head around that.

Patrice Catan:

I remember you telling me that and laughing and I said, "Your creativity is going to grow bigger when you go into bridal. You have a lot to offer." We don't know what's ahead in your profession.

Patrice Catan:

Jimme, tell the audience how we first met when your son was three and a half years old.

Jimme Huang:

So we were in the showroom, you and Mr. Wayne Putnam was sitting at a table right by the runway stage and I just left you guys alone because you guys having a deep conversation. And my three and a half year old picked up a shoe from the display rack, walks over, drop it on the table, turns around at you, Patrice, and he goes, "Miss Patrice, did you buy this from my daddy?" I turned around on the showroom, I started laughing and tearing up because I said, "I never taught him to say anything like that," but he was only three and a half little munchkin running around, barely knee high like you said. And then asked you that question. I about died laughing.

Patrice Catan:

Well it's funny, but I grew up in the business with my father like that. And he grew up with you and he instinctively knew what to say. Of course, I thought it was hilarious. I'm with Wayne. Wayne was one of the greatest man there ever was in the industry.

Jimme Huang:

Correct.

Patrice Catan:

He was your mentor, my mentor, we always went to him for advice. When you're starting from the bottom and you're doing things your way, not the way everybody thinks it should be done, they go, "Oh well this won't work." But it does work. And that's the exciting part of developing something through a creative mind. You really don't listen to the other people. You just keep going and going is the way we both did. And in our own we became very successful in our endeavors. A lot of hard work, had a lot of fun. But you know what, it was a way of life.

Jimme Huang:

Yeah, correct. When I first met him, this is a true story, this is probably my third market. And he took me to the office on the floor and he sat me down and I go, "Wayne, what's going on?" He goes, "I need to talk to you." And then first thing came out of his mouth, he said, "A young blood like you doesn't come into an industry very often." And-

Patrice Catan:

That's correct.

Jimme Huang:

... And he says, "As a lot of dinosaurs is in this industry, including myself." I said, "I never looked at it that way." And then he goes, "Focus on what you do. Don't let people tell you you can't do anything and then you'll make it, you're going to make it, you'll do well." And this year, I opened up my new showroom in Atlanta and I said, "Wayne, we talk about this, how to renovate showroom for many, many years." And then growing into the showroom that I wanted, I finally took over 10 years now, I built this 2,500 square feet showroom on the atrium, India of America's Park. And the first person I thought of, say, "Wayne, I wish you were here, but I know you're up there and being proud of me." And Sharon and the Putnam's came by and all congratulated me. So that was the best feeling ever.

Patrice Catan:

Yes, they were the best. And they guided us. And Wayne would say to me, "Just do it. Don't ask me again. Just do it. Don't talk to anybody about anything." So our life has been very blessed, we have beautiful families and we've done the best we could in business and we're thankful for that. And Wayne is always looking over your shoulder.

Jimme Huang:

Absolutely.

Patrice Catan:

The only difference with Wayne is if you were on the phone, he would've hung up on you-

Jimme Huang:

I'll think-

Patrice Catan:

... before you finished a sentence. That's correct. And he would go, "All right, bang." And I knew, "Okay, I'm done." So I better figure the rest out myself.

Jimme Huang:

I'm used to it because my mother does the same thing. So it wasn't too much of a culture shock to me, but it is still-

Patrice Catan:

Well, there you go.

Jimme Huang:

It's only, they talk, they finish and that's it. End of story.

Patrice Catan:

That's it, they're done. I think it's a pleasure that you've come on the show. I appreciate your loyalty and I want to work with you from this point on and make everything successful.

Jimme Huang:

And I do have one last thing to add, is that I want everybody to know success will come, but it will come with sacrifice. There are so much things that you don't realize that you have to sacrifice to make up for the extra time. Make up for the things that you do to make it better and make it perfect. So I tell the story, I say, "2021, I've flown over 85,000 miles with American Airline alone. I traveled every single weekend to a trunk show, to a fashion show and stuff like that. To be able to have a foundation of my collection. So success will come up but with a sacrifice." And everybody should understand that.

Patrice Catan:

That's absolutely correct. I can attest to that. It comes with a lot of sacrifice, but it also comes with a lot of heart. And I thank you. You're wonderful and I hope we talk again.

Jimme Huang:

Absolutely. Thank you for having me.

Patrice Catan:

Thank you.

Hide Transcript