Amsale Aberra came to the States when she was 19 to study art. As a child in Addis Ababa Amsale designed clothes for her and her sister to wear. Her love for fashion resurfaced when she was set to marry the man of her dreams, film executive Neil Brown but could not find a dress that was simple yet elegant. It was the 80’s and power shoulder pads with gigantic poofy skirts were all the rage. There was a definite void in the market for elegant and sophisticated wedding gowns. Amsale didn’t want to compromise so she did what any creative exasperated person would do, she made her own gown.
Her gown won women in her same predicament over. In 1986 Amsale started her business as a designer for fine bridal wear for the upscale market. Having a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and experience working for Harvé Benard were a definite plus for Amsale.

Today Amsale has four lines that are produced in her stunning New York showroom – Amsale Bridal, Amsale evening, Christos, and Kenneth Pool. Wedding dresses are made-to-order to a bride’s exact measurements and specifications.

This past summer actress Lisaraye McCoy (All of Us, The Player’s Club) wore an Amsale wedding gown for her nuptials to Michael Misick, Chief Minister of the islands of Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. Trista Rehn of The Bachelorette fame also wore an Amsale original to her televised wedding to Ryan Sutter.

Amsale evening has been worn by the likes of Vanessa Willams, Salma Hayek, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Angela Bassett, and Lisa Kudrow at various red carpet events.

Amsale’s gowns have been featured in Vogue, In Style and Hello. She was even a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her flagship boutique is located on Madison Avenue in New York. An Amsale original can cost between $3000 and $12,000. Amsale even meets with brides for personal fittings. If you don’t live in New York, don’t fret future brides, Amsale gowns are sold nationwide and in Canada.

Business has definitely grown for Amsale over the last two decades. Now, Amsale—whose company had $25 million in sales in 2006—is one of the top couture wedding dress designers in the world!