With a devotion to fabrics, embellishments and silhouettes it was natural for Ilyese to complete a Fashion Design degree from AUT. This knowledge and then experience in the fashion industry made Ilyese a natural addition to the team in Auckland. She has progressed to lead the team and teach them all the knowledge she holds. Brides who have a booking with Ilyese will be lucky recipients of her expertise in garment construction combined with her knowledge of how a gown can be tailored for the perfect look.
I had an amazing experience at Astra Bridal and found my dream wedding dress! Ilyese and the team were so welcoming and made me feel comfortable and excited to try on dresses and live my princess fantasy. I’m plus size and have a large chest, so I was kind of dreading wedding dress shopping, expecting to not be able to fit into anything and only be left with a couple of choices. I’d also resigned myself to having to wear a bra on my wedding day and staying away from strapless styles. BUT Ilyese gave me so many beautiful options and was super mindful of the need for extra boning in the bust, and I was able to go with an off-the-shoulder dress I loved! A bonus was Ilyese finding me a gorgeous full glitter veil. I felt seen, heard, and beautiful at Astra. I can’t thank the team enough for their help and would highly recommend Astra Bridal to any bride. <3
February, 2025