More than a decade and a couple of hundred dresses later, Tarien Cronje still lights up when a bride puts on one of her wedding gown designs.
For Tarien Cronje, a businesswoman and fashion designer, everything’s about creative freedom, attention to detail, and, most importantly, empowering women through her designs.
“Growing up, I’d always wanted to take over my mom’s business. Then my dad insisted I first get a qualification. Since I’d always loved fashion and interior design, I got my honours degree in consumer science. I then completed some courses in fashion styling and image consulting, adding to my design skills.”
The adrenaline rush of creating something totally bespoke became addictive, and it wasn’t long before she launched Kyna Consili Couture. Kyna – which is her name in Greek, and Consili – meaning designer.
Tarien fell head over heels in love with the career, whipping up the most elegant creations for any occasion – be they weddings, pageants, matric farewells or red-carpet events.
But designing a wedding gown will always be her fave … she admits she was hooked the moment she first saw a finished dress on her first bride-to-be.
“I call that magical moment the crowning of the bride. Completing the bride’s dress feels like the final touch for her special day. I get to crown this moment by having her put on her dream gown.”
As her brand evolved, her client base continued to expand. Eventually, her expertise was sought at several Krone concerts, J&B Met events, big pageants, music videos, and even a local film – Eintlik nogal baie, and she was dressing celebs like Nicholis Louw, Elizma Theron, Ray Dylan, Kurt Darren, Karlien van Jaarsveld and Donnalee Roberts.
“Although I make men’s clothing too, my love will always be dressing women and bringing beauty to them. I believe there’s power in a dress that can make a woman feel unstoppable and ready to conquer the world.”
As if Tarien is not busy enough transforming women on the outside, she also loves empowering them from the inside! Through this, SterStatus was born … a platform for women that not only opens the door to the entertainment industry but also helps them become a better version of themselves.
“Over the years I’ve noticed so many girls not believing in themselves, or not thinking they are beautiful. With this business, I hope to connect them with opportunities. Helping them unlock the power they have within to reach the goals and dreams they never thought possible.
“I believe my calling is to restore their vision and to make them feel worthy again. If it has a life-changing impact on them, the fulfillment is magnificent. And if I have the privilege of sharing a journey with them, the restoration is so much more profound. My heart will always be for women.”
While staying true to it – her heart that is – she simply couldn’t turn away an offer that combined her passion for fashion and love for the outdoors.
“I was approached by Leisure & Adventure’s Arnoux and Kiara Mare to design and develop a special kind of clothing collection with them. After intense strategising, designing, and sourcing local production, we brought Sandton Safari to life.
“What makes this range so unique is the fact that it not only looks great, but it’s also entirely functional and durable. With this collection the possibilities are endless, and this truly excites me to the core. I am extremely honoured to be a part of this brand.”
Although she has to juggle a lot of balls, with a crazy daily to-do list, Tarien makes sure to maintain a healthy work and family balance. The best part of her day will always be getting home to her hubby, Rikus, and three children, one-year-old Rikus Junior, four-year-old Karli, and six-year-old Diané.
And, when she’s not in front of the sewing machine, in a factory, or transforming young women, Tarien can be found in the bushveld, pushing the limits in a 4×4, saying “adventure and travel is happiness!”.
One thing is for sure, Tarien has learned exactly how to wring the best out of life! With a little fun, positivity, and determination, she proves just about any goal can be achieved.
Details: Follow kynaconsili on Insta and Facebook, and Leisure & Adventure on Facebook
Seven tips for a bride-to-be
- Don’t go over budget – If you’ve done your homework and told the sales assistant about your budget in advance, you shouldn’t be put in the position of risking your budget. Whatever you do, stick to it!
- Don’t bring an entourage – Searching for your wedding dress is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, it’s probably the most important dress you’ll ever wear. The emphasis here is you and having 10 different opinions makes it much harder to come to a consensus.
- Don’t continue shopping after you’ve bought your gown – The temptation to continue looking at wedding gowns after you’ve said yes to your own dress is real. There are so many pretty dresses and reminders of the gowns your friends bought. Plus, it’s not uncommon to think that there may be a wedding dress that’s more perfect than the one you bought. If this is the root of your regret, the best advice is to honour the choice you made.
- Don’t try on too many dresses – If you’ve seen at least one episode of Say Yes to the Dress, you know why you shouldn’t try on more than 5-10 wedding dresses. If you try on more than 10 different styles of dress, it’s very tricky to narrow them down to make a decision. If you’ve done your research, you should have a fairly good idea of what you like before rushing in.
- Don’t bargain-hunt – There’s nothing wrong with wanting a good price, and we’re all for checking out the sample sales and off-the-rack specials, but instead of hunting for a hugely reduced dress, try to find a designer or bridal boutique that caters for your budget. If you’re hunting for a bargain you might end up convincing yourself to take the one that’s 70 per cent off and ill-fitting, or not really what you wanted, then regretting your decision.
- Don’t buy a wedding dress that’s too small – Planning on getting in shape for the big day? If you really think you’re going to drastically change size between now and then, hold off on buying your wedding dress. While you may end up losing a lot of weight, you may also actually change shape and your choice of dress might not be suitable any longer.
- Don’t start the search too late – Bridal gowns typically arrive six months after they are ordered, and they often require alterations. Start your search about eight to 12 months prior to your wedding day to ensure that your selection isn’t limited to the few dresses that will be ready on time. If you delay, you might end up wearing a dress you don’t love.
Remember this when planning your special day:
- Have an approximate number of guests you’ll invite to your wedding before settling on a venue
- Location and venue. One of the most important decisions you will make while planning your wedding is where to hold the ceremony and reception. With so many wedding venues available, you’d think choosing one would be simple, but it never is. Knowing in advance your budget, who will be in your wedding party and who will potentially be your guests will give you an idea of where the venue will be.
- The right photographer is key. As your pictures is the memories you will have for the rest of time.
- Compile a detailed plan for the special day.
- Make sure your design elements tie together to create the atmosphere you’re going for.
- Have a backup plan. If you are looking for outdoor photos or even an outdoor reception, ask if there are any wet weather options in the event it rains, storms, or is too hot and humid. While many venues have other rooms that you can utilize in case of inclement weather, some venues may not be so lucky. This is why you’ll need to have a backup plan.
- Don’t lose yourself in the sea of trends.
- Find a safe keeping space for your dress.
- Research, Research, Research
5 Trends that are in this wedding season
- Dramatic ceilings – They are getting bigger and more dramatic! Think opulent, beautiful, cascading floral installations, mesmerising chandeliers, show-stopping fairy light ceiling displays and creative ceiling draping.
- Statement wedding aisles – One of the most special parts of any wedding is the ceremony itself, whether it’s in a Church, a barn, a garden or a lavish castle wedding. Making it look beautiful just adds to the magic of the ceremony, creating that extraordinary, fairytale feeling and creating a show-stopping backdrop for that moment you say ‘I do’.
- Vibrant weddings – Colours and textures are everything when it comes to weddings and it’s always great to look at how you can incorporate them. They help create depth and ambience and can often be the difference between looking okay and looking amazing!
- Rust is in – According to Pinterest’s predictions, rusty, terracotta, copper and burnt Sienna are going to be the IN colour this season.
- Creative wedding photo backdrops – Let’s not pretend that we don’t like taking photos! Who doesn’t love a selfie or a photo of themselves all dressed up as a memento of your wedding day? Creating a beautiful backdrop or statement focal piece for your wedding gives you and your guests the perfect opportunity to take stand-out photos. Providing an alluring backdrop will also encourage your guests to explore and ultimately take more pics and videos… meaning you get even more to look back on!
Text: ALANICKA LOTRIET. • Photographer: STEPHEN SEGAL. • Make-up: HEIDIE FOURIE. • Hair: JANINE LATEGAN.
