Cover Malaysian influencer Alyssa Johaan wears a Hani Mokhta wedding dress (Photo: Alyssa Johaan)
Malaysian influencer Alyssa Johaan wears a Hani Mokhta wedding dress (Photo: Alyssa Johaan)
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If you have any form of social media, you have definitely seen a #HaniMokhtaBride on your feed
Founded by sisters Farah and Tati Hani in 2018, Hani Mokhta has become the first stop for brides in Malaysia looking to create the perfect wedding dress for their big day. In this interview, Tatler goes straight to the source to figure out the reason behind this local fashion atelier’s rising popularity.
“You don’t have to be someone else on your wedding day,” says Tati Hani, accurately summing up the magic of Hani Mokhta’s elegant designs, each carefully made to capture its wearer’s individuality and unique charm.
In fact, it was her own struggle to find a wedding gown that suited her personality that motivated her and her sister, Farah Hani, to set up their own business in bespoke bridalwear in the first place. “We wanted to fill the gap in the market for brides looking for something a little different, perhaps more carefree and rebellious,” she explains.
Above Founders of Hani Mokhta, Tati and Farah Hani (Photography: Daniel Adams)
Founders of Hani Mokhta, Tati and Farah Hani (Photography: Daniel Adams)
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And Hani Mokhta has been doing just that, establishing a loyal following of brides who often return to the fashion label for more, from custom creations for formal and festive occasions to everyday garments from its ready-to-wear collections. “The best part of our job is meeting new people and building relationships with them. Everyone is different, and it’s a joy to create a special piece for them, especially when it comes to something as important as a wedding dress,” says Farah, the brand’s co-founder and creative director who cut her teeth at Alia Bastamam, Mimpikita, and London-based embroidery company, Hawthorne & Heaney.
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Below, the sibling duo draw from their years of experience to share their biggest tips for brides-to-be who are embarking on their bespoke wedding dress journey.
1. There can be too much inspiration
When it comes to your Pinterest board, Farah and Tati agree that less is more.
“The typical process of designing a wedding dress to completion is usually three to four months, including the consultation, fittings and final adjustments. However, we spend at least two appointments at the beginning to really understand what our bride is looking for, and we have found that vision boards can be more overwhelming than helpful if they are filled with too many different ideas,” shares Tati.
Farah suggests sticking to three reference images as a good starting point. This way, the designer is able to cohesively build on the bride’s initial concept with their own ideas and align preferences in regard to fabrics, textures, silhouettes, and accessories before presenting their sketches.
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2. Enjoy the process
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Designing a wedding dress is meant to be fun, asserts Tati.
It can be easy to succumb to the pressure of undergoing the bridal glow-up, which usually involves dramatic weight loss through boot camps and special diets. It can detrimentally affect the process of creating the perfect wedding dress, whether it’s choosing an ‘aspirational’ silhouette for a future body, selecting a shape to ‘hide’ perceived shortcomings, or requiring stressful, last-minute alterations on the dress days before the wedding.
“When brides look in the mirror, we never want them to see flaws. It’s hard enough being a woman—and to be planning a wedding on top of that! Instead, we hope to help brides understand and accept their body shape,” explains Tati.
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Farah provides practical advice: “I encourage brides to try on some sample dresses before the first consultation to determine the types of silhouettes they like. And when they share their preferences, it is good to be open to the designer’s suggestions, especially in the early stages. When we design these dresses, we can already visualise what the final product will look like, so we are able to propose elements that might work better.”
3. Be true to yourself
“For us, we are invested in every #HaniMokhtaBride’s journey. We want them to be happy and comfortable on their wedding day. That’s why we always recommend brides embrace their personality,” say the founders of Hani Mokhta.
It can be an elaborate ball gown befitting a fairytale princess or an understated slip dress paired with sneakers—as long as the choice feels true to the bride. “You don’t have to be someone else on your wedding day,” they reiterate.
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Based in Kuala Lumpur, Zue Wei Leong is the senior style writer at Tatler Malaysia. Read her stories on the latest in fashion, beauty and jewellery or follow her on Instagram at @fshnbrnr.
