The Bridal Industry is a 300 Billion dollar industry, (the numbers may drop for 2020 because of the pandemic) and it continues to evolve to make room for future change to be inclusive to everyone around the world.
There are a handful of people in the industry that start out one way and later transform to another direction when it comes to their career.
There are even fewer Black designers that are globally recognized and celebrated, in the retail space, and most definitely in the luxury arena is even smaller. But when they are in the space they tend to soar to great heights and do a brilliant job at their craft. Paulette Cleghorn is such a figure in that space that has shattered the glass ceiling.
Cristiano Lucci Bride 
Cristiano Lucci Bride
As a bridal publication here at WBM from our inception we have always been inclusive with all our editorials, and the content we present to you our readers. We are proud to say we didn’t have to pivot backward and apologize for excluding anyone, or groups out there. We have always seen you. We noticed there are so many other platforms now becoming more conscious about being more inclusive in showing Black representations using models, working with brands that invite Black and brown people. You the consumer are demanding it and holding them and us accountable. We accept the challenge to create a better and healthier and inclusive environment.
We are proud to see the changes our industry is making. So we wanted to introduce, or reintroduce you to some of our favorite Black designers in the Bridal space that have been here and have supported World Bride Magazine from day one for the past two decades. We want to support these brands not because they are Black, but because they do great work, but some of you may not have known that there were amazing Black people behind the work you have loved for so long. You trusted the quality of their work, integrity of the brand and you shopped.
Paulette Cleghorn started as a retailer, evolved to become a redesigner, a showroom owner, a bridal salon, and now a Creative Director for two design houses that are globally recognized. Cleghorn designs for the Japanese house of Yumi Katsura and Italian house Cristiano Lucci. Talk about being global. Canadian born, American bred, and New York celebrated and internationally respected.
Listen to our conversation and see the honor and respect is earned and well deserved.
Over the past several years, Myrdith Leon-McCormack has evolved from one of the nation’s most successful Celebrity Manicurist, represented by Factory Downtown, to one of the most sought after branding experts with her firm MLM Represents as well as a Huffington Post blogger.
Leon-McCormack, founder of MLM Represents, oversees all practice areas and is involved in providing strategic direction to select clients. Her particular area of expertise is advising clients on how to best leverage their brand as an asset to serve as a powerful leadership tool and drive their business performance.
Leon-McCormack’s innovative strategies to connect consumers more effectively by associating them with the world’s most influential celebrities, musicians, arts, film and personalities has been part of her incredible success to collaborating with some of the industry’s most influential people in the world of the arts, music, and film. MLM Represents client list includes: Isaiah Washington, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lois Samuels–the Vessel, and Justin Davis. Her new business has afforded her the opportunity to travel the world to wonderful destinations such as Egypt, Qatar, Dubai, London, France, Ireland, to name a few.
Leon-McCormack’s creative vision and strong knowledge of the entertainment and arts has created yet another venture with the weekly radio show, “Keep It Moving” with Marsha Jews on WEAA 88.9 FM, a national public radio station, as Executive Entertainment Producer.
As the Editorial Director of World Bride Magazine (WBM), she drives the magazine into the 21st century, where visions of people of color are seen in a more positive and progressive direction.
