Anifa Mvuemba’s first bridal presentation for Hanifa exuded an air of sophistication. Hosted on the stunning Black-owned Salamander Resort in Middleburg, Virginia, the sprawling grounds were the right backdrop for Hanifa’s latest enterprise into the bridal market. Ahead of her show, the designer shared that she desired to execute an intimate experience that felt like a marriage while being inclusive and accessible. To attain this, she invited her top customers, editors, and native brides she personally knows. 

“With bridal, I’ve at all times desired to be in an area where I can create custom couture gowns,” she said nearly an hour before her show. Mvuemba also emphasized her mission to alter the perception of luxury. She cited her 2021 show in Washington, D.C., where everyone sat front row, no matter their status, for example of her disruptive intentions. She goes on to precise that one notion that also speaks to disrupting the bridal market is making a show where her Black customers feel seen on the runway. “Whenever you consider couture, if you see those beautiful shows it’s hard to see yourself in those pieces since you don’t have access to it.” Her way of subverting this ideal is to shatter this glass ceiling by creating bridal gowns, separates, and accessories at accessible price points. 

In the gathering, Mvuemba offered her own interpretation of what today’s brides might desire accompanied by elegant hairstyles created with Mielle products. The primary look featured a complicated, lengthy white cape-esque gown that glided gracefully down the runway. Other options include designs with intricate corset bodices. One dress, specifically, featured a satin bottom and a glittered nude bodice, while another choice in a deeper brown boasted hundreds of beads encrusted into the material. The gathering also showcased a spectacular ball gown fabricated from white silk and a ruched tulle number with an oversized bow at the underside. The ultimate look, an exquisite off-white gown with raw hemming on the layered exterior, marked the dawn of Anifa’s recent era. 

The gathering was meticulously crafted and held profound meaning for the designer.  She mentioned it felt like a full circle moment, especially considering that she had created her first custom bridal gown nearly 10 years ago. Launching a complete bridal line is one among many strategic decisions she is making to expand her business empire.  “I [want to be] a billionaire,” Mvuemba notes.

Before our conversation led to a room full of journalists and reporters, Anifa expressed gratitude for her talented team of designers who’re continuously pushing her to grow and learn. “I’m at all times a student, I’ve needed to undergo 12 years of Hanifa to get so far,” she adds. “The intricacy of among the pieces, for those who take a look at where we began to where we are actually, it’s mind-blowing.”