Brideside
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail, Fashion |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Sonali Lamba, Nicole Staple |
| Defunct | November 16, 2020 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Bridesmaid gowns, bridal party accessories |
Brideside operated as an online boutique specializing in designer bridesmaid gowns and accessories for the entire bridal party. The company was established by Sonali Lamba and Nicole Staple, who were classmates at the Kellogg School of Management. Initially launched exclusively as an e-commerce platform, Brideside later introduced physical retail locations before ceasing operations on November 16, 2020.
History
The inception of Brideside traces back to 2010 when Lamba and Staple met while attending Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. They officially founded the company in 2012,[1] with its public launch occurring in January 2014.[2] The platform enabled brides to upload dress options into online galleries, facilitating input from bridesmaids. Subsequently, selected dresses were shipped directly to bridesmaids for at-home trials.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Brideside’s model delegated much of the decision-making process regarding bridesmaid attire to a dedicated stylist who collaborated with bridesmaids after the bride completed her consultation and posted her preferred selections.[3]</ref>
Following their graduation from Kellogg, Lamba and Staple initially relocated to Philadelphia to participate in a business incubator program. They later returned to Chicago, recognizing it as the nation’s largest bridal market by expenditure.[2] Beginning as an exclusively online business, Brideside expanded to include a physical showroom in mid-2014, situated in the Fulton River District of Chicago’s Near West Side.[3][4] The company secured $1.5 million in seed capital in 2015.[1] By 2016, Brideside had enhanced its website with additional features and capabilities.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content In March 2017, it entered into its first collaboration with a prominent retailer, Lord & Taylor.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content The following month marked the opening of a second flagship store located in Charlotte, North Carolina.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Brideside aimed to broaden its product offerings,[4] eventually including maternity dresses within its inventory.[5]</ref>
On November 16, 2020, the company announced its closure via email, attributing the decision to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wedding sector. Their message highlighted that "with two-thirds of weddings cancelled in 2020 and an uncertain year ahead," they concluded their business journey.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Notes
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- United States online retailers
- American enterprises founded in 2012
- Apparel companies launched in 2012
- Retail businesses started in 2012
- Web-based properties initiated in 2012
- United States clothing retailers
- 2012 establishments in Illinois
- Fashion trends of the 2010s
- Clothing retailers of the United States