Iveta Tunová: My Goal Is to Help Brides Find Their Dream Dress
January 27th, 2026
Atelier Ivet is a thriving bridal salon with more than thirty years of tradition. A long journey of patience, dedication, and gradually building experience has borne fruit. In this interview, owner Iveta Tunová reveals how she fulfilled her childhood dream and how she now helps brides and women find dresses for their most special moments.
What values are essential for your atelier?
At the heart of Atelier Ivet is creativity and originality — we devote personal care to each design to ensure it is truly unique.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I am delighted by every compliment from a customer and from the people who have seen her in the dress. When they tell me that she looked great and that the dress was beautiful, that’s the biggest reward for me.
I also love the variety — I never know what I will be sewing next week or month. Customers often come with unusual requests, and it’s always a challenge for me. And when they leave satisfied, it’s the most wonderful feeling.
What inspired you to start your business?
We founded the first part of the company in 1991 when conditions were favorable. I fulfilled my childhood dream — to have my own fashion salon and to sew dresses.
At the beginning, I worked in the atelier only with my mother. Gradually, we grew and added our first seamstresses. At the height of our growth, we employed twenty-four people. Over time, and due to imports of goods from various countries, I had to let some employees go. Today, we work with a small team — just myself and two seamstresses assisting me.
What were the most challenging moments in running the atelier?
During the coronavirus pandemic, we couldn’t continue our usual salon activities, so we started sewing face masks. At first, we made them for hospitals and for charity, but also for financial reasons — at that time, it was our only source of income. Thanks to the materials I had available, we were able to start immediately.
Gradually, orders began to come in from brides and grooms who weren’t willing to cancel their weddings. We matched the masks to their dresses so they would look elegant even in photos. We also sewed other design pieces.
Do brides prefer custom dresses, or is renting more popular now?
Currently, it’s balanced. Some brides prefer renting, while others want to keep their dream dress permanently and have it custom-made.
Where do you find inspiration for new designs?
Designing is a process that requires time. Sometimes, I think for several days before I decide on the material and cut. Then I buy the fabric, prepare the pattern, sew — and a new design is born. Today, I find inspiration very easily thanks to the internet, which is always within reach.
How do you manage individual requests when sewing custom dresses?
I give each customer my full attention. In a meeting, I listen to her ideas and wishes. Then I evaluate whether the design flatters her figure — and if it doesn’t, I suggest a solution that will suit her better. The goal is for her to feel beautiful and confident.
Custom-made wedding dress from Atelier Ivet
What was the most demanding order you’ve ever completed?
The most challenging was the wedding dress for the Wedding Dress of the Year 2010 competition. I carried the design in my head for a long time before I found the courage to enter. It was embellished with five thousand Swarovski crystals and completely different from my usual creations. I placed third with it, and it decorated my salon for a long time as an example of our work.
What materials do you prefer for your dresses?
I prefer materials that I have tested and know have proven themselves. They are high quality, withstand washing and maintenance, and customers feel comfortable in them.
Custom-made wedding dress from Atelier Ivet
Do you incorporate fashion trends into your collections?
I follow trends regularly. However, it’s not always possible to use them immediately — customers who don’t follow trends tend to be cautious at first. But I need to know them in advance because what’s trendy this year might be the most popular next year.
How important is social media promotion for you?
I consider social media the fastest and most effective form of advertising. It allows our products to reach customers quickly and helps them become aware of what we offer.
How does your website help your business?
Our Webnode website helps us a lot. On the site, customers can find all the necessary information and examples of our work. We have a gallery with photos from brides, so new visitors can immediately get an idea of what to expect. That also brings us new customers.
Why would you recommend Webnode to others?
I have several reasons — I like its creativity, simplicity, and excellent support for implementation and use.
Webnode is financially accessible, especially for small businesses. And anyone can easily create their own website or online store with it.
What do you think has decided your success?
The most important thing is to have patience. The road to success is long and requires a lot of practice and experience. But when you persevere, the results will come.
Do you design and produce wedding accessories too?
Of course. Every bride needs not only a dress but also accessories — veil, hair ornament, earrings, or necklace. We always match them to the dress so that they perfectly complement it.
Where do you see Atelier Ivet in five years?
I hope Atelier Ivet will still be a thriving bridal salon with many satisfied customers.
What would you like customers to take away from visiting your atelier?
I want them to leave satisfied, thrilled, and with the feeling that they are taking home the dress they dreamed of and in which they feel perfect. And that they return to us with joy — that is the greatest success for me.
Tip: Thinking about your own online presence? Read how to create a business website easily and present your work professionally online.
Simona Zelinka is a content writer with a background in journalism and environmental nonprofits in the Czech Republic and Estonia. She has over 3 years of experience in copywriting and focuses on interviews and articles about web design, digital marketing, and plant-based food. A lover of long-distance mountain treks, she’s currently renovating a cabin in the Moravian Karst with her husband — a project inspired by her travels through British Columbia and Alberta.