“Well I guess I’ve always been “destined” to be a bridal designer. I’ve been fascinated with wedding fashions since I was little (think Jennifer Lopez in the Wedding Planner when she’s a little girl playing “wedding” with her Barbie dolls – that was me!), so it was no surprise when I decided to make it a career.” Faith Thornburg had big aspirations at a very young age – she knew she wanted to one day design the gowns that would help define one of the most exciting days of a woman’s life – her wedding day. She has done just that.
After finishing high school Faith applied to one school, The Savannah School of Art and Design – she got in – and starting in the fall of 2007 – she had her eye on one degree – Fashion Design.
While at SCAD, she started working at a bridal store in Savannah, where as she described, she played “dress up” with “brides to be” all day long in beautiful Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, Priscilla of Boston and Oscar de la Rent (just to name a few).
The following summer she interned at Anne Barge and Badgley Mischka Bride in Atlanta, GA. Upon returning to Savannah, she started her senior collection. Each year, SCAD works with top designers in the “SCAD Style Lab”. Seniors are encouraged to submit their collection vision and then a few are selected to work one on one with a designer. This past year’s designers were Christian Cota and Chris Benz and they were so impressed with Faith’s vision, she was selected to work with one on one with Christian Cota – an opportunity which she describes as a dream come true!
Cota would visit Savannah throughout the year, assisting Faith in the whole “collection process” – she explains that it was at that point in her career that she was truly shaped into a designer. Along with that incredible opportunity, Faith’s work was also chosen (in a select group of senior designs) to have her collection “walk the runway” in a show choreographed by Miss J. Alexander from Project Runway. After the show she was personally showered with praise and implausible advice from Andre Leon Talley, Miss J and Manolo Blahnik – some of the industry’s leading men!
Faith thought all of her dreams had come true until she was told that her collection had been chosen by Elle Magazine to be showcased at New York’s Fashion Week this September as well as have a special feature in the magazine in it’s October and December issues (so keep your eyes peeled for her)!
Faith is now working on a few gowns for brides that will be worn this fall and will be moving to Atlanta, GA in three weeks to get her career “up and running” – she is well on her way!
Check out her website to get to see all of her collection!
Up & Coming: Faith Thornburg