Expert Interview with Sophie Linardopoulos of Zolotas Australia Bridal
Boho brides, take note. Zolotas Australia Bridal hand make the most beautiful gowns with seamless silhouettes and a unique heritage. Crafted in Greece, the land of the Bohemian summer, these gowns channel the spirit of a wedding in the Greek Islands and are made with a lot of love, joy and passion. Today we chat to Sophie Linardopoulos, owner of Zolotas Australia Bridal, about these special gowns and the process of making them for the lucky brides that get to wear them on their big days.
How long has Zolotas Australia Bridal been around?
Six years exactly!
How have bridal gown trends changed since then?
Six years ago “bohemian” bridal gowns were just starting out and you wouldn’t see the boho style so much. Now the boho gown is in almost every bridal shop! We are proud that all our collections are bohemian haute couture gowns and each one is so unique and beautiful.
What makes a Zolotas dress super special?
The fact that the designs can be tailored to suit a bride’s needs, like adding sleeves, a train etc. And the fact that the dresses are all handmade to measure! It’s very hard finding “handmade” in this merchandised world! Another special element that makes us stand out is all appointments are private, which means it will only be the bride and her special guests at the appointment.
Run us through your current collections…
We currently have four different collections so we have something for every bride:
1) The Core Collection
2) The Essence Collection
3) The Origin Collection
4) The Crop Top Collection
What’s your favourite design?
I absolutely love the Cybelle design, it’s a design with long laced sleeves and a beautiful soft tulle skirt, it is perfect for both a winter wedding and summer wedding.
Where do you source your fabrics?
All our organic cotton and laces are sourced from the beautiful villages on the Greek Islands. We don’t use or have anything plastic with our brand, including the coat hangers that are handmade out of wood, the wooden price tags and the cotton bridal bags.
What happens at a consult?
As soon as a bride enters the store we offer pink gin or a refreshment on arrival. The bride and myself will choose between 8-10 different styles and work our way through finding the best style and shape for her! Appointments go for a full 1.5 hours so a bride doesn’t have to feel rushed.
And what do you love most about your job?
Seeing a bride’s face light up when they have a dress on and always getting the same response from every bride “how comfortable the dresses are on”. I have also been very lucky and feel very privileged to have had some brides invite me to their wedding!
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
That I have a double degree in criminology and justice and work as a transitional manager in a male prison.
Three things you like to do when you’re not working?
Going out for brunch, cooking in the Thermomix, and travelling to the Greek Islands to see family.
Thank you Sophie for chatting all things Zolotas Australia Bridal with us! These gowns are absolute works of art, and it’s evident a lot of care and love goes into making them. To find out more about Zolotas Australia Bridal, head to their website or check them out on the Polka Dot Directory.
