Vendor spotlight on: Joan Shum

When I came across Joan Shum's bridal designs on etsy, I immediately fell in love. Her dresses are so unique and different from other bridal gowns out there that I wished I could get married all over again just so I could wear one of her dresses! Joan has been kind enough to answer some questions for us about her line of work, so without further ado I give you Joan Shum!

Zenadia Design: Give us a little information on your background as a designer, and how you got into designing wedding gowns.
Joan: After graduating from FIDM in Los Angeles, I’ve worked in the heart of the fashion district in downtown Los Angeles, on and off, for about 15 years before I decided to venture off on my own. Working for other companies and assisting in designing their collections, I had often thought that it should be my collection I’m working on.

Before I even considered about getting into designing wedding dresses, I really wanted to start my career in costuming for period films. I simply love how regal and stylish the fashions were. It was not until when I made my sister wedding dress that I seriously thought about designing wedding gowns.
I felt, if I could bring together my love for costuming and my love for wedding gowns to create dramatic gowns, as it was in history, it would fulfilled my need to design and make beautiful things.

ZD: What inspires you as a designer?
Joan: All my life I have been inspired by one particular kind of fashion. That’s Haute Couture. Unquestionably, Haute Couture is the masterpiece of art in fashion. It knows no racism and has no cultural differences. The blend of unprecedented techniques with brilliant creative designs and using lavish fabrics that seduces fashion lovers everywhere, it is the ultimate in eye-candy!

ZD: What are 3 words that describe your style?
Joan: Chic, vintage edgy, eclectic, and progressive. I just adore wearing vintage pieces with tomorrow’s fashion.

ZD: What is your favorite wedding gown design and why?
Joan: I love them all in different ways but I am partial to the “The Lady of the Valley”, simply because the line is so elegant and graceful.

ZD: When you are not designing wedding gowns, what might we find you doing?
Joan: You might find me walking my very high maintenance spoiled bad dog Jack. Other times, I might be traveling with my husband across the United States and Asia. But, most of the time, I am always thinking about new designs for my next collection.

Thank you so much, Joan! It is so much fun to get to know a little bit about the talented designed behind the wonderful creations! Speaking of wonderful creations, here are some of Joan's fantastic dresses! You can see more and contact Joan through her etsy shop, or her website. She has lots more wonderful pictures on her website so check it out! My favorite dress is Love In The Mist, what is yours?!

Lady of the Valley


Love in the Mist


Bella Tea


White Dalia