Meet Melek Dikici: Designer and Founder of Dikici Bridal

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melek Dikici and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melek, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We’ve all heard the saying “If you enjoy what you do you’ll never work a day in your life”. It’s in my nature to find happiness in whatever life throws my way. Call me an optimist but I explore and welcome the silver linings in each day. Every problem that arises is a challenge that will make me stronger and wiser once it is overcome. I use those moments as an opportunity to take me to the next level in personal growth and business. From the beginning of Dikici Bridal I wanted to offer an exclusive custom experience to brides looking for a gown that will emphasize their most admirable qualities for a stunning impression. To bring out their confidence on their special day by embodying the feeling of effortless beauty while being comfortable at the same time. After all, they need to be able to dance the night away! I wanted to take brides on the creative journey, working one on one with the designer taking into account every detail they can dream up. When they are a part of the creation process it’s hard not to fall in love with every detail knowing they had a hand in it. Every bride deserves their dream dress. This is what I want to share with brides and the reason behind starting Dikici Bridal. Having been a bride myself I of course designed my own wedding dress. I was able to experience what other brides go through when on the hunt for the perfect gown. I bring a more personal experience to the process with my brides that you can’t find at a bridal store. I often tell brides it’s difficult to find “the one” in a sea of gowns because those weren’t made for you. Taking personalization to the next level seems like the obvious route when designing for bridal. No bride should have to stress about her gown on her wedding day. I want to give women a stress free and exciting experience that goes far beyond a trip to the bridal shop. I thought to myself, there must be a way that I can service brides who are seeking a one of a kind custom wedding gown. By eliminating the mass market, big retail and high mark ups I am able to focus our efforts on a business that has pure intentions with the customer at heart. I started my career as a designer in the fashion industry and know all too well the restrictions of producing to the masses. I want our business to work for individuals not profit margins on a spreadsheet. Yes every business needs to profit in order to produce products. I believe the more people can see the value in a custom gown the more the custom gown business will flourish organically. When starting to visualize how I can make this passion into a profession I was often self-conscious in a world surrounded by people who seem to have every answer to what a fashion business should be. I had no idea where to start and feared talking about it would be a conflict of interest or that I would be judged for doing it all wrong. With time I’ve realized that nobody has a playbook for how to succeed, also that I only found support from colleagues and friends who would push me forward in pursuing my dreams. Can I create custom gowns at scale? How will I manage a growing business with such high rental rates in Los Angeles? How can I communicate to brides that their dream dress is possible in this ever changing world of social media? The list can go on forever, but there is an answer to each one. The journey is in finding the answer that will work for the business and our customers.   The simplest answer to why I started in the bridal business is because it brings me joy. It may sound selfish at first but to be able to bring happiness and confidence to a bride on her most memorable day of her life is such a rewarding feeling. It’s what motivates me to cater to each bride and her individual aesthetic. My calling is to be creative, bridal is my outlet.  If you are a creative type, you probably remember the feeling of being in grade school and were assigned an art project. Those were my favorite! The kid in me still revels in the exciting idea that each bride is an art project that must be absolutely perfect. You allow your mind to get lost swimming in the ideas of what you can create. What is her personality like? How do you infuse those characteristics into a physical design? Then you dive into the details on how to make that vision come to life! This would not be possible without the co-creation process. I often refer to “her” or “she” when I’m speaking. I have to understand the individuality of each bride in order to create something that is uniquely her as opposed to the general market of brides. It’s the personal aspects that keep this lifestyle rewarding, that makes it a passion not a job.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Having been raised by a Turkish father and Tae Kwon Do master and an American mother in the Air Force, the hard working mentality was instilled in me from a very young age. If there was something that needed to be done we had to make it happen for ourselves. I did not grow up in a privileged neighborhood and had to deal with many challenges that hard working families often do. I knew I had to work harder and be better then the social standard set. I am competitive by nature, but in a healthy competition way. Like we can all push each other to be our personal best. I remember getting in trouble for my grades on a report card. My defense was that the grades were on average, my father sternly told me “you are not average!”.    I took the typical path from high school straight to college, got an internship and was hired as an assistant designer even before I graduated. With this eagerness I was often the youngest employee at every job I worked. The extra hours were well worth it in order to get the task done successfully. Hardly sleeping I was able to manage finishing college, working full time, being a Tae Kwon Do instructor at my father’s studio and was cheering for the Los Angeles Clippers all simultaneously. Looking back I have no regrets because I had the opportunity to explore so many different paths leading to different futures in order to find what would bring me happiness in the long run. This diversity in my background working with so many different types of people has largely impacted an open mindset in my everyday life. Inclusivity is a popular word these days but it’s a wonderful thing to gain popularity. The people I surround myself with are how I like to gage the quality of life. Having positive and uplifting relationships is key to how I project my personality and my work to my customers.   Working a full time job while building a business was by far the biggest challenge in getting started. I have built a career working for design and manufacturing companies as a head designer for retail stores across the US. This is something I really enjoy and of course as every entrepreneur will tell you, it pays the bills. On top of being dependent on a consistent paycheck there was also a struggle with time. I can’t help but give my 110% effort in anything I do however, realistically your mind can only be sharp for so many hours in a day. I wasn’t willing to let my work suffer in order to start my own business. I wanted the best of both worlds. With the feeling that there were never enough hours in a day to accomplish everything I wanted I had to create a strict schedule and set realistic milestones in order to reach a larger goal. I began to wake up at five in the morning daily to prioritize my energy on my business first, then go into work which came easier due to the years of experience. Little by little my goals became more clear and opportunities came more frequently.  Hard work is only one part of running a business. If you’re not having fun the motivation will run dry. I’ve learned that I must schedule time for some white space in my calendar, time to rest my mind and do the things that are exhilarating and make you feel alive. Giving myself these moments filters into my work by avoiding the tension and stress of work or problem solving. Even when I’m in the zone you will find me working with a smile on my face and most likely dancing to the rhythm in my heart. There are only so many hours in a day, with careful planning and realistic goal setting I’ve learned you can go through the day stressing about getting it all done or you can decide to have fun doing it. We all have the power to make the choice of how each day will be spent.  Now working on launching my first collection of wedding gowns I am so excited for what will come next. I enthusiastically look forward to the future of growing this brand and what can be accomplished. I’m proud to be able to hold true to my values and never compromise my integrity. My goal is to continue to instill all my love, compassion and creativity into the wedding gowns to best serve our brides.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The best part of living in LA is there is never a shortage of things to do. I say this while were in the middle of a pandemic so maybe we are limited but non the less I have not been board. California alone has the most beautiful stretch of coastline with so much to explore. With multiple hikes from Malibu all the way to Orange county the views are incredible. If you are looking for some real adventure take the drive up to Big Sur or participate in the 6 peak challenge to climb the tallest peaks in southern California. Try out the app call All Trails for the best hiking trails and tips. Locally the the food options in Los Angeles are endless. I like to take people to the Arts District for good eats, lively breweries and artistic murals covering the walls of building. You also can’t come to LA without going to the beach. Every beach has it’s own vibe and culture. Abbot Kinney and Santa Monica are great for shopping and dining. At all times there is most likely a sporting event or art exhibit in the city. The options are endless! I have literally gone snowboarding in the mountains then relaxed on the beach in the same weekend. As you can tell I have so much love for LA and hope that everyone who comes to visits leaves with a positive experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to send a shout out to my biggest supporter Sarah Dikici. You may recognize the last name, she is my sister and one of the strongest and most innovative people I know. Without the encouragement and brainstorming sessions throughout our years together I would not be where I am today or believe I could make my dreams happen. Sarah is a hair stylist and hair specialist located in Oak Hills. Her creativity, knowledge and transformations are just a few of the reasons her customers love her so much. They know she not only take special care for the health of their hair but they’ll leave the salon with an uplifted spirit just by being around her. Her skills are phenomenal! I recommend every bride to put their trust in her when choosing a hair stylist. She somehow finds a way to balance all the crazy adventures being a working mom takes on and still goes the extra mile with each client. On top of that she does it gracefully. Sarah has been styling hair since she was old enough to hold scissors, I would know! She used to cut my hair when she was in third grade. That passion has never faded. She love what she does today and is continuing to push forward with innovative ideas. I can’t wait to see what comes next. @sarah_dikici.hair

Website: https://www.dikicibridal.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dikicibridal/

Image Credits
Kristen Booth