Meet Mannie
Hi I’m Mannie,
The Designer and Dreamer behind BOWIE RAE.
It feels right to start this Story at the beginning, where this Dream all came from - After all, I have absolutely no experience in fashion design, dress making or running a business. In my other life, I was an English High-School teacher who fell in love and got married to a fellow Teacher. Just two older kids who’s eyes caught each other across the playground and somehow danced our way onto our own aisle…
It was my own wedding day that planted the seeds for BOWIE RAE.
Designing our Wedding Day, it became clear to me very early on that I couldn’t hear myself, feel myself, see myself, let alone Us through the incredibly thick haze of expectations. My sister designed my wedding dress for me, and while I had absolutely full creative authority, I did not design the dress of my dreams, let alone the wedding of our dreams.
It was like a riptide, we were trying to find our own flow in a strong current of everyone else’s opinions and ideas. The result was a very beautiful wedding day; an epic party, non-stop dancing and laughter, sooo much love and joy - yet something was very much off the mark - my dress felt like I was wearing everyone and everything else, I couldn’t wait to rip it off me, which I did at the reception wearing something far simpler and a lot more me.
Why was it so important? I never felt it would be such a pivotal piece but it really was. It felt like I was an imposter on my own Wedding Day. It was instantly clear that I could not be fully present for the day and the moments, as long as I was dressed up in costume; as someone else, for someone else. And I had most certainly dressed up for ‘everyone else’, except they didn’t even know it and the strangest part, neither did I…
“Which begged the question, why did the dress have so much to say about the way the day felt for me? ”
“ I’ve found a way to bring myself back to my very own Brand of Beauty and I want to share that gift with every woman ”
— Mannie, Designer & Founder of Bowie Rae
What’s next?
This is what BOWIE RAE was born from
Initially it was my ‘Revenge Dress’, what I would have worn to my wedding day had I the voice I have today - the courage I have today. But BOWIE RAE has since grown and matured her voice
She no longer needs to prove how strong and brave she is, how unique and individual she is.
BOWIE RAE is now a testament to every woman looking to announce Her Beauty, Her Freedom, Her Love Story; Her Way. Not in a loud, F**k You kind of voice (which I may have used one too many times in my younger life), but in an unwavering
Here I am
Here I have always been and I don’t require any permission outside of My Own Self to Be Her. No performance, No dress ups, but instead, a dressing Into
An Unveiling of You
In any colour, shape, tone or level of sheerness your Heart Desires
I just want you to feel like you are Naked when you wear Your Dress and to move that permission, that feeling, that freedom of Being You to well beyond the One Day
Which is why BOWIE RAE is extending her story to Beyond the Wedding, where you can choose to design your very own piece for Your Wedding Day, Another Big Moment or for Your Forever Wardrobe -
So this is the Story so far, want to keep telling the story with me? Book Your Session with Mannie and discover just what it might feel like to do more than just Bridal, Your Way
All My Love,
Mannie x