Bridal designer Amsale Aberra died on Sunday night at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York. She was 64. The cause of death was uterine cancer, according to the company.
The Creative Director, Founder and Co-owner of Amsale was inspired to launch her couture bridal gown business in 1986 after making her own gown for her wedding to Clarence O’Neill Brown, known as “Neil,” at Montclair, New Jersey ‘s Trinity Episcopal Church in 1985.
With it, the Fashion Institute of Technology graduate became part of the first wave of pioneering designers to bring a fresh perspective to bridal, considering her customer an individualist who lands somewhere between timeless and modern on her big day.
Aberra, a native of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, opened a small store at 625 Madison Avenue in 1997, which has since been expanded and extensively renovated.
Today, the business is comprised of such labels as Amsale, Nouvelle Amsale, Kenneth Pool and Christos. With each collection, the designer brought the right mix of romance, modernity and magic to bridal.
“Amsale was not only an inspiration to the company, but someone who inspired and impacted everyone around her with her strength, kindness, and humility,” said Brown, who also serves as CEO of Amsale. “Working side by side, we spent 360 degrees of our life together, and I know only too well both her creative genius and her infinite goodness. Words cannot express the personal loss that we feel, but we are comforted by the avalanche of support we’ve received and the commitment of our team to carry on Amsale’s legacy.”
Aberra was a trustee of FIT, and served on the international advisory board of the Ethiopian Children’s Fund. She was twice featured in Ebony magazine’s “Power 150” list of the 150 most influential African Americans. She also received at legacy award at the 2012 Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit.
Her wedding gowns had starring roles in films and on television shows such as Runaway Bride, Analyze This, 27 Dresses, The Hangover, and Grey’s Anatomy.
Planning the future of her company, Aberra recently hired Margo Lafontaine, most recently senior studio director of Vera Wang, as her successor. Lafontaine will spearhead the house’s design and development team, joining studio director Sarah Swann, who manages the operation of the design division.
When CFDA interviewed Aberra for a bridal feature series last year, she had this advice for budding brides:
“Always keep your focus and be true to what will make this day most special for you and your groom. There is no ‘perfect’ wedding, only a wedding that can be ‘perfect’ for you.”
In addition to her husband, Aberra is survived by her daughter Rachel Amsale Brown, father Aberra Moltot and half-sister Aster Yilma.
At the designer’s request, the company will continue with plans to unveil its Spring 2019 Bridal Collection and runway show on April 13.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggested that contributions may be made to the Ethiopian Children’s Fund and Fashion Institute of Technology.
The Wake and Visitation will take place at Frank E. Campbell, 1076 Madison Avenue, this Sunday, April 8, from 4PM to 7Pm.
The Funeral Service will take place at Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, on Monday, April 9, at 10AM.
