Marcela & Co: "The most elegant and stylish guests continue to wear fascinators because they elevate their look."

Sandra Majada, the perfect guest, wearing a hat by Marcela and Co. (Instagram)

QUESTION. What is the philosophy of Marcela & Co

ANSWER. We try to work quickly, as our clients tend to come to the studio with very little time, so we have to be available to meet their schedules. We usually take less than two weeks to make a headpiece from scratch. Normally, within 5 days of coming to the studio or ordering through the website, they receive it at home. We work by appointment and via WhatsApp to provide personalized and friendly service. We use the best materials and design each headpiece by hand, keeping prices as low as possible.

 

Q. What features differentiate your designs

R. They are handmade, stitch by stitch, in Madrid, with natural materials such as sinamay silk, abaca… Our designs are simple, because we want them to be suitable for all women, But we try to be a little original in colors and shapes without making elaborate headpieces. Our clients are ordinary women who don't wear headpieces every day, but they want to look flattering and elegant at special events without feeling like they're in costume or drawing too much attention.

A guest wearing a headpiece by Marcela and Co. (Instagram/ @marcela_and_co)

Q. Tell me about your beginnings, how did you get here?

R. Marcela & Co started as my 'side business' and I continued like that, combining it with my office job for five years… In August 2024 I decided to leave my job of 10 years in a multinational to dedicate myself to my business and study for my doctorate. I started by making a headdress for myself It was quite a few years ago, around 2019. My friends really liked this fascinator, and I started researching courses, suppliers… I'd always had the idea of ​​starting my own business. My office job wasn't completely fulfilling, and I was looking for my place in the working world. Marcela has grown very gradually. We started with sinamay headbands, fascinators, and wide-brimmed hats, and then we gradually added other products that our clients requested to complete their guest outfits: handbags, gloves, earrings, capes…

Q. What do brides look for in headwear these days?

A. Almost all women feel comfortable wearing headbands made from the fabric of their dress. for the wedding, And there are others who are more daring and choose more color for the party. They also really like the theme of ribbons, flowers, and feather decorations, all in white or off-white tones.

Q. And the guests?

R. Everything… From huge hats in wonderful colors to ribbons to decorate a ponytail or a braid, including sinamay headbands with or without a veil that are our bestseller.

Q. In your opinion, why are fascinators falling out of favor at weddings? What accessories are now the stars of guests' looks?

R. I don't think they're going out of style. The most elegant and stylish guests continue to wear them because they elevate their look and transform a dress that may have been worn before into a new outfit. It's true that many prefer a more understated headpiece, such as a headband or a ribbon instead of a wide-brimmed hat or fascinator, but women who wear a fascinator once always wear one again because they understand that the fascinator is the focal point.

A bow by Marcela and Co. (Instagram)

Q. A perfect guest look is...

 R. The one that makes the guest feel comfortable and beautiful. If she is a morning guest, she must wear a fascinator. If it's in the afternoon, you can wear a headband without a veil, a large bow, or jeweled hairpins.

Q. Where do you think the bridal fashion industry is at right now? And weddings in general?

R. In a time of rationalization after years of extravagance, people are now looking for reusable, sustainable, and highly personalized accessories. At Marcela & Co, we offer the option to rent headpieces, both for guests and brides, to provide a more sustainable option for those clients who prefer it. I think weddings are moving away from being spectacles with dancing between courses, performances, countless gifts, food stations… and returning to being more personal, family-oriented, and authentic celebrations.

Q. What role have social networks acquired in all this?

R. For us, social media is a key tool for potential clients and friends of clients to get to know us, to give them styling ideas, to talk to them about etiquette...

Q. What is the work process in your workshop?

R. We have a prototype of each design so we can photograph it, share it on social media, upload it to the website, and allow customers to try it on. Then we make them from scratch as we receive orders. Every week we release new designs based on our inspiration, customer requests, or what we see as the most popular trends.

Q. Average price of the headpieces and hours of work you invest in each one.

A: It depends. For example, a headband costs 80 euros, a wide-brimmed hat 140 euros, and a fascinator 100 euros. The time varies a lot, but I would say that each headpiece, whether it's a headband, fascinator, or wide-brimmed hat, takes more than 2 hours to make.

Q. In your opinion, what are the major bridal fashion trends for 2025?

R. As for colors, for brides, all white. and for guests Pastel colors or mocha mousse brown, which is all the rage this year not only in clothing, but also in headpieces and accessories. Flowers for everyone, brides and guests alike, asymmetrical shapes, and enormous, flared hats for guests.

 

Q. How do you see the future of bridal fashion?

R. I envision the use of natural, sustainable, and high-quality materials. Classic brides, with dresses tailored to their figure and rich, handmade details: embroidery, trimmings…