Whitney Stephenson of Mahogany Brown Bridal is Altering the Seams of the Bridal Market, Creating Space for Minority-Owned Brands and Designers One Dress at a Time.

For too long, minority-owned brands have been under-represented in the bridal market. Fashion Designer and Owner of Mahogany Brown Bridal, Whitney Stephenson, is on a mission to change that.

*The following interview and accompanying collaboration photos were featured in MunaLuchi Bride Magazine, Issue No. 30. Unless otherwise noted, all photos were captured by Dajuan Jones of In His Image. Order a copy of the print magazine here!

• Blog Series: Behind The Brand
• Featured in: MunaLuchi Bride Magazine, Issue No. 30

Whitney’s story begins in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

The eldest of four sisters and one brother, she grew up in a loving family with unconditional support in everything she did. 

Her determination shown as a business owner today stems from her upbringing and discipline acquired as an all-around athlete in high school where she played basketball, volleyball, and track. 

“My main sport was basketball,” she shares. “Every summer I played AAU. We won State Championships and every year we went to Nationals where our highest rank was 3rd in the nation.” 

After high school, she attended Tennessee State University in Nashville and majored in Architectural Engineering. In her junior year, she decided to enlist in the United States Navy and began her Military career. 

She recalls, “Bootcamp was in Chicago, then A-school in Florida, and my final placement was in San Diego, CA onboard the USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76 where I met my husband Timothy.” 

Ever since meeting her husband, he has been her biggest supporter. “He helps me with designs, cutting, and sewing,” she shares. “He is my backbone.” 

The couple have 4 beautiful children together. However, the birth of their son, Phoenix, would ultimately lead Whitney down the path of fashion. 

On Christmas Day in 2015, baby Phoenix arrived 3 months early at only 28 weeks gestation. Endearingly calling him her “miracle baby,” “Christmas joy,” and “surprise,” Phoenix experienced multiple medical complications after birth which sent him to the NICU.

Looking back on those days, Whitney remembers how difficult it was: “Phoenix had to have surgery because of a perforated bowel and hole in his colon. He went through four more surgeries before the age of one. He was in the hospital his whole first year.” 

Despite their fears, she admits, “Being in the thick of everything we just did what we needed to do as his parents. Phoenix was ultimately diagnosed with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome and a few other disabilities.”

While in the hospital, Whitney realized her son needed custom attire that would fit him properly and accommodate the tubes and cords that were monitoring him. She decided to start altering his clothes. It wasn’t until her best friend brought up that she had always wanted to be a fashion designer that she remembered this was a dream she’d had.

“So much had happened since then,” she shares, “I guess I had put it to the back of my brain. My son brought it back out and I couldn’t be happier that he did.”   

Amidst the chaos of life, Whitney discovered altering clothing was a soothing and relaxing pastime.

She asked her mother to teach her to sew. First learning how to sew a straight line and a zipper for a pillow, Whitney ran with it from there. She even started a small children’s clothing line (which still exists today!) called ImPerfectly Perfect Children’s Apparel (IMPKidz).

Her children’s line drew attention and one day a client asked if she could make a prom gown. 

“I had never made a dress and was kind of nervous about it,” Whitney admits. “But I took on the challenge and it was a success.”

Soon after, a bridal shop owner reached out about making a gown for their boutique. Whitney jumped at the opportunity and made the gown, but never heard back from the shop owner. 

“A lesson learned,” she says, “never make anything for anyone without payment first!”

Following these design requests (along with a finished gown lying around that she didn’t know what to do with!) led Whitney to an idea. 

“I wanted to open a bridal shop,” she shares, “but not just any shop, one that will represent other minority designers like me who are not already in storefront locations. I wanted to represent the under-represented.”

Sitting on the phone with her best friend one night, they went back and forth throwing names around until they finally got to Mahogany Brown Bridal and the tagline: “Where Melanin and Marriage Unite!”  

For her own newly acclaimed bridal brand, Whitney named it around her forever inspiration: her son, Phoenix. “I took my middle name and his middle name and came up with Lee Jerome.”

On June 17th, 2022, Mahogany Brown Bridal officially opened its doors in historic downtown Concord, North Carolina. 

The boutique remains committed to creating an inclusive space for multicultural brides and designers regardless of race, religion, sexual preference, or ethnicity. 

Whitney shares, “Showcasing minority brands is important, as it addresses the under-representation of diverse backgrounds in the bridal market. By offering designers who reflect the diversity of brides, we create a space where all brides can find gowns that resonate with their unique identities.”

Currently, Mahogany Brown Bridal carries Kosibah, elleNelle, Pantora, Odylyne The Ceremony, Keo, Edith Elan, Page XVII, and Lee Jerome. “We are in the works of adding Cynthia Grafton-Holt, Valentine Avoh, Lotus Threads, Luxe Collection Bridal, By Dani Simone, and Ritu Bhat,” Whitney adds.

In that list are several MunaLuchi Coterie members, including Kosibah, Page XVII, elleNelle Bridal, and of course Whitney’s brand, Lee Jerome. Each of these talented designers recognized the significance of being a part of Mahogany Brown Bridal and supporting Whitney’s vision. 

Designer Leah Langley-McClean of elleNelle Bridal first heard about Whitney’s bridal boutique idea in 2020. 

Leah shares, “Whitney and I are friends. We attended Tennessee State University together several years ago. She called me to share her idea of opening a bridal salon focused on closing the racial disparity of minorities in the bridal design space and said she wanted to carry my brand. The rest is history.”

However, it was not only friendship that inspired her to join the boutique.

“I truly believed in her mission,” Leah explains. “I could believe in it, not just because I’m affected by it, but because she was taking it seriously. A lot of times we get the short end of the stick as minority independent designers. We get the offers of “I want to carry your brand,” but at your own expense. Whitney was the only retailer who treated my brand the same as any other designer and made a purchase order.”

Fashion designer Jasmyne Summers of Page XVII connected with Whitney on Instagram in 2021 and soon after, she too joined the collaboration. 

Jasmyne shares: “Whitney’s mission is inspiring because it shows me that there is room for black women in the bridal space. I showcase my designs in Mahogany Bridal because Whitney sees us and understands us as designers. She’s rooting for all of us to win and the best way to win is when we win as a team.”

Hailing from the United Kingdom, couture gown designer Yemi Kosibah first met Whitney when she stopped by his stand at the Union Square Bridal Show (part of New York Luxury Bridal Fashion Week) in the fall of 2021. 

After hearing her idea, Yemi knew he wanted his designs to be a part of her collection. 

Yemi recalls, “I was very impressed by how intentional Whitney’s vision to stock minority designers in her boutique was and I thought it was extremely important to support her to ensure the success of her plans.”

On why more designers should join, he adds, “I think more minority designers should join this collaborative because quite frankly I don’t think there is anything else like it. Its success is very important to us all, otherwise, it may discourage other people with similar ideas to Whitney from taking that leap of faith. It’s a win-win for us all.”

For Whitney, the connections she’s made and friendships developed through her vision have been amazing.

“I want to continue bringing us together and having events to gain exposure to the designers and brands,” she says. “I want all of us to be able to call on each other when we have a question or have an event and we all come together to support one another.”

The journey hasn’t always been easy, of course. Whitney attributes the company’s ability to triumph over adversity by embodying adaptability, reliance, customer-centricity, and innovation.

“Our ability to swiftly adjust strategies and operations, foster a positive company culture, and leverage technology has played a major role,” she shares. “By prioritizing customer needs and delivering exceptional service, we have established and maintained strong relationships.”

Fast forward to June of 2023, Whitney (along with fellow Designer Jasmyne Summers) joined the Coterie and we instantly recognized a creative synergy.

Whitney’s desire to shine a spotlight on minority brands and designers aligns with MunaLuchi’s ongoing pursuit of diverse representation and inclusion in the wedding industry.

With several Coterie designers already supporting Mahogany Brown Bridal’s mission, we decided to challenge Whitney and her Coterie Designer partners. We proposed a Muna Coterie Collaboration!

This unique test asked new Coterie members, Whitney and Jasmyne, to work together with their Coterie peers to create an original photo shoot celebrating minority-owned brands.

The resulting styled shoot would be brought to life solely through the love of collaboration, without monetary compensation or promise of publication, and merely from the heart and soul of vendors coming together to support a mission greater than themselves. 

Up for the task, the pair accepted the challenge and got to work!

Inspired by Mahogany Brown Bridal’s mission, their talented vendor team (made entirely of minority-owned wedding vendors) conceptualized, planned, and executed a chic-styled shoot on September 6th, 2023, at The Cloth Mill in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

D’Veilope Events created a delicate floral backdrop and provided the decor for the shoot. Makeup Artists Kalessia Bailey and Tycalyn Blackmoore, along with hair stylist Linda Stokes of Legacy Lux Hair got models glammed up and photo-ready. 

Exuding Black Excellence, eight models posed in Coterie Designer gowns, including Lee Jerome, Page XVII, elleNelle, and Kosibah— all of which are featured in Mahogany Brown Bridal’s boutique. The Artsy Girl and SuReina Bridal provided an extra dose of glam with bling and bridal accessories.

From start to finish, Photographer Dajuan Jones of In His Image and Videographer Ray of Weddings by LDF expertly captured all the details.

The resulting photos are a testament to the Coterie Community and the power of collaboration. 

For Whitney, the collaboration was an exciting step toward accomplishing her vision.

She shares, “[Mahogany Brown Bridal] becoming the go-to bridal shop for multicultural brides will not only bring diversity to the forefront but also empower and celebrate the beauty of different cultures and backgrounds.”

Whitney is well on her way to accomplishing her goal! 

As a newly initiated Coterie Member, she is most looking forward to being a part of a family: “To have a place and group that I can come to for advice. A place where I can grow. Gain exposure to new brides and wedding professionals. Network with members. Laugh and have fun.”

– – – 

We are extremely proud of all of the vendors who participated in this Muna Coterie Collaboration!  

Click here to view the rest of Issue 30!

Vendors:

• Fashion Designers: Lee Jerome by Whitney Stephenson | Page XVII by Jasmyne Summers | elleNelle Bridal by Leah Langley-McClean | Kosibah by Yemi Kosibah
• Bridal Boutique: Mahogany Brown Bridal
• Photographer: Dajuan Jones of In His Image
• Videographer: Weddings by LDF
• Florist & Decor: D’Veilope Events
• MUAs: Kalessia Bailey | Tycalyn Blackmoore
• Hair Stylist: Legacy Lux Hair
• Bridal Accessories: SuReina Bridal | The Artsy Girl
• Venue: The Cloth Mill
• Models: Nicole Burton | Jennifer Michelle | Telethia Penn-Wright (Representing Diva Day International Agency) | K’la Estes | Nilyne Hicks | Kayla Speed | Raina Berry