About Janice Martin

Ms. Martin has been designing clothing for private clients for over twenty-five years and her experience shows when collaborating with her client for the best possible design outcome. Whether working directly with the bride or navigating the sometimes tricky shoals of family dynamics, her ability to hear the concerns of her client allows her to produce the best gown with the most value whether that client affords a custom made French beaded lace or whether her desire is for something more modest.

Ms. Martin's first public commission was for Ildiko Komlosi who sang with Luciano Pavarotti in the televised Verdi Requiem in 1986. The six foot tall soprano had arrived from Hungary without a gown for the performance, so the Opera Company of Philadelphia turned to Janice Martin to outfit her… with only one week to spare! In 1997, the Philadelphia Museum of Art also turned to Ms. Martin when it was time to restore Princess Grace's wedding veil for their upcoming exhibit "Best Dressed: 250 Years of Style". In the intervening years, Ms. Martin designed a limited edition line of evening wear which was sold on Seventh Avenue, ran the fashion shows for the Italian Consulate in Philadelphia and honed her design skills while developing her private clientele.

For twelve years the business occupied a salon on Main Street, Manayunk in Philadelphia. In January of 2005, Ms. Martin and her staff moved to larger quarters in the heart of the Main Line near Suburban Square, and the bridal retail stores Suky and Priscilla of Boston.

Ms. Martin's current loft space studio exudes European elegance with New York sophistication… and a dash of mid-west comfort. You are invited to make an appointment and come in and see gowns in various stages of development, bolts of fabric, and bureaus of lace which will offer you a glimpse of design possibilities to match (or surpass) your imagination… because if the design really is as important as the date, you should take the time to design the perfect gown.

Janice Martin is a Philadelphia designer who offers her clients the elegance of couture and the luxury of self-expression. Whether you are searching for an original gown of contemporary simplicity or one which showcases the needle arts of a bygone era, Ms. Martin's studio is a "must visit" on your itinerary.

The excitement begins the moment you walk in the door. Finished gowns hang like artwork on the walls. You will be introduced to fabrics from foreign lands, and beading with exotic pedigrees. Design ideas will flourish as you look at photos and drawings, take measurements and drape fabric. Before you leave, the design you imagine will be on its way to becoming a reality.

You will share the thrill other clients have expressed as you watch your gown develop from idea to muslin (a fabric pattern) and on into finished gown-- you will discover that your gown keeps company with those seen on television and in the theater, and those featured in magazines and fashion shows. You may, like some of her other clients, become so enthralled with the process of "perfect fit, perfect design" that you return after the wedding for your other wardrobe needs.

Take a moment to make an appointment! Come visit with Janice Martin in her loft studio in Ardmore, right outside of Philadelphia. It is the most welcoming and relaxed setting you will experience in pursuing the gown of your dreams!