Born from the days of flicking through the pages of her mum’s Vogue magazine’s, Grace’s adoration for fashion materialised into the creation of her wonderful bridal boutique, Hermia, situated in her hometown, Lancashire, Northern England.
With an English degree and Fashion Retail masters in tow, Grace worked as a fashion writer who spent her days writing product content for some of the industry’s biggest designers, “After a few awe-inspiring years, I came to realise that I wasn’t built to exist on paper and wanted to move back into the physical store where I had found my feet. I had always dreamed of owning my own bridal boutique and decided that now was the time to make that very dream a reality.”
Being a homebody at heart, she wanted to create an intimate space where brides felt at home as soon as they walked through the door and chose to build the business where she grew up and found herself.
The airy sanctuary that is Hermia, is grounded by a garden-like feel and the scent of fig trees, with their signature, traditional front desk welcoming women looking for their dream gown. This cherished amenity is Grace’s favourite part of her store, “I feel like this desk represents a sense of continuity— something which could’ve been forgotten but wasn’t.”
Beyond this, it’s the privilege of meeting new individuals and being a part of their special wedding experience that drives Grace, who says that she was drawn to bridal for its simple essence of what it means to be truly in love and wanting to commit to someone for the rest of your life,
“It’s not so much about societal convention any more… the industry itself is diversifying in a way that’s really exciting, but still anchored by the same core values.”
The boutique is an ode to the inspiring women in Grace’s family and encourages brides to trust their instincts and try what their drawn to. If she had one piece of advice to share with brides-to-be, Grace would say that having an idea of what you want is okay, but to also allow your other senses like touch to help guide you, “A bride in a gown she adores glows naturally, so when making your decision ensure any hang-ups on what others may or may not think at the door.”
Grace acknowledges and appreciates that not many people can say that their days at work revolve around love and joy, “Cherish the designers who lift you up and you can lean on. And that perfectionism you’ve been told makes you a bit of a control freak? It will in fact prove to be your greatest weapon.”
Her love for Bo & Luca began through the brand’s spirit which celebrates everything she wants to champion at Hermia, “Their commitment to unparalleled craftsmanship and the art of slow luxury sings to our conscious sentiments and I believe serves as a glimpse of what the bridal industry should look like. There’s a tangible air around every Bo & Luca gown that feels like family. Each collection stands the test of time and has a undeniably heirloom feel, which really nods to the familial roots upon which Hermia is based.”
Grace is especially excited to see our GABRIELLE gown on her rails and was drawn not only to this piece, but the EVA too, “I also can’t wait to see both Eveline and Bardot from this year’s upcoming Capsule Collection in store.”
QUICK Q & A
FAVOURITE BRIDAL TREND OF 2022
Tiered skirts
FAVOURITE WEDDING SONG
Video Games- Lana Del Rey
FAVOURITE WEDDING FLOWER
White Hydrangeas
SLEEVES OR SLEEVELESS
Sleeves
CHAMPAGNE OR WINE
Champagne
