São Paulo – He lives among lace, tulle, silk, veils and headscarves. He loves what he does and collects good stories. The stylist is also touched when he sees mother and daughter with their eyes moist at the time of the first trial of the dress. Although the scene has been part of his daily life ever since childhood, when he accompanied his mother at the family dress shop in Adma, Lebanon.
Born in that country, where his family still lives, Lucas Anderi was one of the pioneers in São Paulo in the import of garments for women about to head down the aisle. The owner of Cymbeline, which trades French models, and Rosa Clará, of Spanish models, in August, he opened Atelier Blanc, with items designed by himself and also others by stylists Fause Haten and Carolina Herrera (of which he is the exclusive representative in Brazil).
“I am Lebanese. I like trade. And the wedding market is very good. It grows solidly,” said Lucas. In his case, the expansion of Cymbeline and Rosa Clará business was 25% a year in recent years. “That is not to mention that I have lived in the world of brides since childhood, when I was clinging onto my mother’s skirt, and she always worked with that,” he said.
Of the three enterprises, all in Jardins neighbourhood, one of the wealthiest in the city of São Paulo, Cymbeline is specialized in more “romantic” models. Rosa Clará is aimed at the more shapely women, while the brand new, Atelier Blanc, includes the stylist’s own models and those of Fause Haten and Carolina Herrera. “I am classic, I do not like too much fashion for weddings,” he said. “I like models that brides will see in their album years later and still find beautiful,” he said. On average, the prices of dresses at the three shops range from 5,000 Brazilian reals (US$ 3.200) to 13,000 reals (US$ 8.000).
The businessman ended up in Brazil at the recommendation of his brother, Rami, who already lived in the country. And here, he graduated in Foreign Trade. With no foreign accent, at his shops, he sells to many members of the Arab community. He has already dressed eight of his cousins in white or off white (slightly aged looking white). “They all insisted on ordering their dresses from me,” he explained.
Anderi has among the relics of his shop the gloves that his mother wore when she got married. “She also opted for a dress full of lace,” he recalls.
The happy moments in the family, mainly those between mother and daughter, are recorded with the same care. “The bride truly feels she is going to get married when she tries on the dress and sees it for the first time in the shop mirror,” he said. “That is when they are truly touched,” he adds.
In Paris
More interesting stories? “Once, a groom measured his girlfriend, bought a dress, took it in his luggage on a trip to Paris and there announced to his partner that they would get married in that city,” said Anderi. “We have also already supplied brides who, for their second wedding, also buy from us.”
To be even more present in the weddings of clients, at Atelier Blanc, Anderi developed a line of jewels and accessories. “I use Brazilian gems like quartz in the production,” he said. Another novelty is the shoes for the occasion. One of the details is the baby blue sole. “To help put the US saying in practice… that a bride needs something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue,” he said.
The recommendation is printed on the walls of Atelier Blanc. In blue letters, of course, and is guidance by the Lebanese to the brides he has already dressed and will dress in white all over the world. Learn more in the video below.
Contact
Atelier Blanc
Telephone: (+55 11) 3064-0185
www.atelierblanc.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
