Morilee New York Appoints Chief Design Officer, Jiyup Kim
In the NEWS! New York bridal house Morilee is entering a new era with the appointment of Jiyup Kin as Chief Design Officer.
Kim will lead the Morilee Design Team following longtime Chief Design and Creative Officer, Madeline Gardner’s resignation at the end of March. In a statement on Instagram Madeline, who remains on the Morilee board of Directors explained that she is “stepping back from day-to-day business” and is “excited to take on new challenges and opportunities.”
In her new role, Kim, who served as Senior Design Director at Vera Wang for more than 10 years and directed the creative vision of its luxury bridal, red carpet and special occasion collections, will chart the course of design innovation at Morilee.
“I feel truly honoured to lead the design and believe that my experience will significantly contribute to the brands captivating future in a meaningful way” says Kim of her inspiration to join Morilee. Having previously designed for Jason Wu, Donna Karan and Marchesa, Kim brings a wealth of creative talent to the brand adding “I plan to bring this expertise to blend the sophistication and grandeur of the red carpet to the delicate intricacies of bridal. Infusing our bridal and special occasion collections with elevated luxury and style will ensure each piece feels unique and unforgettable.”
When searching for a new Designer, Morilee President and Chief Executive Officer, Terri Eagle was keen on finding someone who understood the house of design – not just the making of wedding dresses, but options for the entire bridal party. With “big shoes to fill” Eagle shares the joy of meeting her new Chief Design Officer, “Jiyup Kim just lit up the room. The smile, the joy, the love she has for design, it’s captivating.” Eagle added “Not only was she involved in design, but she was also involved in the creative – so she can bring those two pieces together to truly modernise us.”
Morilee proudly celebrated its 70th Anniversary last year and both Terri and Jiyup see exciting opportunities in the brand’s future, “I look forward to completely immersing myself into the essence of Morilee, honouring its storied heritage while injecting a fresh, elevated luxury perspective” explains Kim, adding “My goal is to establish a core language of pieces, introducing a poetic new way of dressing and offering essential elements that transform special moments into extraordinary experiences on multiple levels.”
Jiyup Kim’s first bridal collection for Morilee will debut in March 2025 to the UK market and at April 2025’s Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week.
Comments