Behind the Brand: The Inspiration for ModaUnico

From a young age, I was captivated by wedding dresses. I spent countless hours watching "Say Yes to the Dress" with my grandma and studying designers' works on the Kleinfeld website. I often played bridal stylist for my friends, sharing my passion for bridal fashion—a creative outlet I always cherished. However, I never seriously considered it as a career path until a debilitating chronic illness disrupted my academic pursuits.

While juggling chronic health issues with my studies, I worked toward completing my bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology. Whenever I had enough energy, I worked in bridal shops, indulging my lifelong passion and helping brides find their dream dresses. As I neared the completion of my degree, I realized that pursuing the joint JD/PhD program I had once desired was not feasible. I had to accept my disability and recognize that such demanding academic pursuits were not compatible with my limitations, leaving me—someone who was deeply academia and career-oriented—somewhat directionless.

Shortly after my first major flare-up, I met the most amazing man, who would later become my fiancé. Years later, the journey to finding my wedding dress was a pivotal moment in my life. I traveled with my mom and maids of honor to a bridal shop several hours away that carried a specific dress I had long admired. That evening, as I relaxed by sketching wedding dresses on my iPad—a hobby I had quietly cherished into adulthood—my companions noticed and encouraged me to consider turning my passion for bridal fashion into a career.

The morning after our discussion, I found my dream dress, "Beata" by Milla Nova. It was the first gown I tried on, and instantly, I knew it was the one. Having driven seven hours to the nearest store that had it in stock, I felt an immediate connection that reaffirmed my love for wedding dresses and solidified my belief that helping a bride find her perfect dress was indeed my calling. Energized by this experience, I canceled my other bridal appointments and began laying the foundations for what would become ModaUnico, with strong support from my parents, my fiancé (now husband), and friends.

While I was lucky enough to find my perfect dress, my experiences in the bridal industry revealed a significant gap: the lack of customizability and limited agency brides have over their own dress designs. This spurred me to create a business that would not only offer more inclusive choices but also empower brides to have an active role in designing their wedding attire.

My wedding on New Year's Eve of 2022 was a joyous celebration surrounded by friends and family, full of dancing and laughter. Riding the wave of this happiness, I entered my final semester of school in January. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I chose to focus all my energy on ModaUnico instead of pursuing graduate studies. Since then, I've been working my hardest to develop the business, determined to offer brides innovative design options and the opportunity to achieve whatever bridal look is the perfect look for them.

🤍 Samantha Chang-Salmon