| Mark Ingram's
fashion career began at the legendary Fifth
Avenue specialty stores, Bonwit Teller and
Bergdorf Goodman. As a young merchandising
executive at these venerable institutions in
the early 80's, Mark was exposed to the
world's top designers and arbiters of style.
Mark's interest in fashion, however, dates
back to his childhood. As a youngster barely
out of the stroller, Mark was introduced to
fashionable Fifth Avenue shops by his
grandparents, who were avid shoppers and
style setters. Custom made clothes and
Saturday fittings at such stores as B.
Altman and Best & Co. remain fond childhood
memories. By 1986, Mark had embarked on a
successful wholesale career in New York's
garment center, securing merchandising and
sales management positions with designer and
luxury goods manufacturers. Since childhood,
Mark had always had a fascination with
brides and weddings. His sophisticated taste
level, elegance and "eye" for fashion made
him a sought after consultant for weddings
of friends and family members. For his
sister's 1994 nuptials, he assisted her with
all the details of her formal wedding,
custom designed her headpiece, and hand
beaded her shoes. This was not merely a
labor of love, but something for which he
felt passionately. Later that year he became
the Sales Director at Amsale, a leading
couture bridal house. It is during this time
period that Mark began to develop his strong
professional and personal relationships with
the nation's top bridal designers,
personalities, magazine editors and
retailers.
Mark's resume includes personally
consulting with thousands of brides-to-be at
trunk shows and registry events at the
finest bridal salons across the country. He
has appeared on local and nationally
televised programs with celebrity wedding
planner, Colin Cowie and other nationally
known bridal personalities.
In the pursuit of his dream to return to
his retail beginnings, and the ability to
work one-on-one with brides at the retail
level, Mark became the Retail Director at
Wearkstatt, the chic, couture bridal salon
located in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood. As
the buyer and director of the salon, he
cultivated new design talent as well as
internationally recognized designers for the
store, and was instrumental in creating an
exciting and unique New York bridal shopping
experience.
In January 2002, Mark fulfilled a
lifelong dream and opened his own salon:
Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier. The Atelier and
Mark were immediately praised by New York
brides as the most chic bridal salon in
Manhattan and its opening was recognized by
The New York Times, Woman's Wear Daily and
The New York Observer. Since then, Mark's
Bridal Atelier continues to receive numerous
honors including The Couture Bridal Awards
Wedding Salon of the Year in 2004. Mark has
also become a regular on Metro's Full
Frontal Fashion critiquing for both Bridal
and Fashion weeks.
Mark resides in a historic brownstone in
Harlem's Hamilton Heights neighborhood and
is currently busy renovating his home. He
enjoys gardening and entertaining with
family and friends.
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