A mother brought me her carefully boxed wedding gown from the ’90s—a pristine white satin with a long, elaborate train, delicate embroidery, and a lace border. She wanted to surprise her two daughters with robes for their upcoming weddings—heirloom keepsakes crafted from her cherished gown.

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I chose my signature kimono design and began by examining the gown: the placement of appliqués, symmetry, grainline, and lace borders all needed to be considered. I detached the skirt, deconstructed the side seams, and carefully pressed the fabric, laying it out to plan the layout for each robe. Pattern pieces were cut and labeled with each daughter’s name, matched to their measurements, allowing me to thoughtfully design two distinct robes that used nearly all of the material.

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Construction was magical. Using French seams to finish the interiors, the satin, lace, and embroidery came together beautifully. The result: two personalized, heirloom robes—each a tangible connection to the mother’s wedding day, ready to become part of a new generation’s cherished memories.