Shala Moradi (Daniel Shapiro)
Shala Moradi
(
)
Kate Middleton’s bridal gown won’t be hers alone for long.
The minute the princess-to-be arrives at the steps of Westminster Abbey, a designer watching the royal wedding on TV on Long Island will put pen to paper and begin a mad scramble to knock off the dress-seen-round-the-world for sale to the masses.
The ceremony will still be in full swing as Shala Moradi — head designer of the Garment District dressmaker Faviana — sets in motion the frantic job of getting their version of the gown to stores within weeks.
It’s a grueling process.
Moradi’s alarm will buzz at 4 a.m. Friday, the day of the wedding. She’ll grab a cup of tea, and watch television while still in her bathrobe — anxious for that crucial first glimpse when Middleton steps out of her Rolls-Royce Phantom to enter the church.
“I don’t get nervous. But it’s a little bit of pressure with the timing,” said Moradi, who has designed spinoffs of must-have dresses everywhere, from the Oscars to Chelsea Clinton’s wedding.
First, she’ll figure out two crucial details — fabric choice and silhouette.
After making a rough sketch at home, it’s off to Faviana’s 17th-floor showroom on Seventh Avenue, via the Long Island Rail Road, to begin making a sample.
During the commute, Moradi will be fielding calls from her assistants, pattern makers and marketing team.
Her two sons, who work in the family business, will sit next to her on the train, pulling up by-the-minute Middleton pics on their iPads to get a close look at the design elements of her gown.
Once at work, employees will be dispatched all over the Garment District to buy the fabric, beading, trims, and any necessary materials to make the dress.
Their version will likely cost less than $2,000 and will be sold online and in department stores.
“When it’s a special event like this, there’s an excitement in the office,” Moradi said.
Her dress won’t be an exact replica of the royal bride’s, whose gown will likely have a huge train — far too fussy for non-princess brides.
By the end of the weekend, Moradi’s company will have all of the details ironed out and a finished sample, which they’ll ship to China for production.
“Depending on the style, it should hit the market within eight weeks,” said her son Navid Moradi, the company’s president.
The dash to get out a dress isn’t unusual for Faviana, who are known for spinning out “inspired dresses” worn by celebs such as Angelina Jolie and Taylor Swift.
But the demand and the rush for a Middleton lookalike gown beats anything in recent history.
“This is going to exceed by far any order that we’ve done,” said Navid Moradi.