Hayley Paige Is Back in Bridal. This Time, It’s Her Business.
One of her designs, the Becoming Jane dress, also gained worldwide attention when it was chosen to be worn at a real wedding that took place during Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime show (here’s how that happened!).
Below, the designer and business owner talks about what it really takes to start over, how losing everything reshaped her priorities as a founder, the dress that means most to her, and more.
Why did you think it was the right time to relaunch Hayley Paige, rather than starting from scratch?
After such a long absence, I felt drawn to the love of the profession itself. Design stopped being about expectation and became about devotion again, which made the experience incredibly joyful. Five years is a long time to be away, so the support from the industry and my community meant more than I can say. I didn’t feel like I was regaining something I had lost; it was like being welcome home. Coming back was never a question of ifbut When…and if I would be able to do it myself, with my name.
Was it scary to come back? Is there a particular challenge that still haunts you?
Starting over was scary, especially when people feel like they already know your story, assume you’ve said everything there is to say about it, or think you’ve rehearsed it for too long. One of the biggest challenges was learning trust again: in contracts, colleagues and myself. I learned that fear may have a seat at the table, but it does not run the meeting.
Do you think consumers care who actually owns the companies they spend with?
I think they care more and more with each generation. They don’t always look for property in a formal way, but people are incredibly perceptive. They feel it in the details: how something is made, how a brand communicates, how it shows up when things get uncomfortable. In an age where so much feels inauthentic, especially with AI and mass replication, I think consumers are hungry for what can’t be edited or outsourced: real hands, real voices, real intention. We increasingly appreciate work that seems human and personal.
What key advice would you give to other women looking to start their own business?
Build your character before you build a brand. Fortunes change, attention fades, and praise is unreliable. But the way you show up, make decisions, and treat people is getting worse. Also, ask uncomfortable questions early. Pay attention to the fine print.
What time do you get up?
I wake up quite naturally around 7 a.m. I don’t glorify sleep any less, I glorify functioning. As a kid, I would stay up late to study and then ridiculously early to do gymnastics, so I learned the hard way what exhaustion feels like. Now I really respect how much a good night’s sleep affects performance, creativity and mood, so I prioritize it and avoid extreme morning routines.
