You know, my journey with elleNelle Bridal isn't just about dresses—it's a story woven with threads of personal struggles, triumphs, and a whole lot of heart.
Picture this: a curvy girl, navigating the wild world of wedding gown shopping. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the haystack was filled with dresses that just didn't feel like me. I wanted something that celebrated my curves, my style, and my personality—a gown that made me feel like the radiant queen I am.
But let's be real, the options out there were slim, and I felt like I was settling for less than I deserved. What's worse, some bridal stylists seemed to think that curvy meant hiding curves and conforming to their personal beauty standards. It was frustrating and disheartening, to say the least.
That's when the lightbulb went off—I could create the dream dresses I longed for! I did just that and became the hero of my own story. Then I realized other brides must be feeling the same way. And thus, elleNelle Bridal was born, a safe haven for brides like me who wanted something unique, curve-loving, and utterly glamorous. A brand that celebrates all women.
My own journey of self-discovery and empowerment fuels every stitch, every design choice at elleNelle Bridal. I want every bride to feel confident, beautiful, and totally empowered on their big day. Because let's face it, it's not just about the dress—it's about owning your moment and feeling like the absolute boss you are.
So, join me in this adventure! Let's redefine bridal beauty, break stereotypes, and create a space where every bride shines like the star they are. With your support, we can make dreams come true, one fabulous gown at a time.
Adding to basket
Funded
A loan helped an independent bridal gown designer create size inclusive wedding dresses to showcase during NYBFW.
Leah's story
This loan is special because:
More about this loan
Business Description
elleNelle Bridal is not just a brand; it's a journey born out of necessity and passion, driven by a deep desire to empower brides of all sizes and hues. As a curvy woman navigating the world of wedding planning, I faced a common yet often overlooked challenge: finding a wedding gown that truly reflected my style, flattered my curves, and made me feel confident on my special day. Frustrated by the limited options available and the lack of representation in the bridal industry, I embarked on a mission to create something truly revolutionary—a bridal brand that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and individuality.
The inception of elleNelle Bridal was a labor of love, fueled by my personal experiences and the desire to provide a safe space for brides seeking unique, curve-loving, and glamorous wedding attire. From the beginning, our focus has been on size inclusivity, offering mid-size to plus-size samples in our collections and featuring models of varying sizes and skin tones in our marketing. This commitment to representation is not just a marketing strategy but a core value that shapes every aspect of our brand.
Our style can be best described as elevated simplicity with a touch of glam, featuring clean wedding gowns with intricate details, from bling to heavily embroidered lace. Each gown is meticulously designed and crafted to celebrate the beauty and individuality of every bride.
Our brand's achievements speak to our impact and influence within the bridal industry. We have been featured in major publications such as the New York Times, InStyle, PopSugar, and more, showcasing our growing recognition and success. However, our true measure of success lies in the smiles, confidence, and happiness of our brides—the real heroes of the elleNelle Bridal story.
What is the purpose of this loan?
I am applying for this loan because, over the course of 2023, I came to a profound realization about the missing piece crucial to my business's success: exposure. Last year, after gaining significant exposure, I witnessed a substantial increase in sales and received undeniable proof of concept for my brand. With the financial backing provided by this loan, I will be empowered to take control of that exposure, moving away from relying solely on sporadic viral content.
The primary purpose of this loan is to produce another groundbreaking collection that embodies size inclusivity and celebrates diversity in all shades. This new collection will not only showcase our commitment to inclusivity but will also be strategically unveiled at the prestigious New York Bridal Fashion Week. This platform presents an unparalleled opportunity to reach a highly targeted audience with considerable influence.
By showcasing at New York Bridal Fashion Week, I will gain exposure to key stakeholders within the bridal industry, including buyers, press, and influential bridal influencers. This exposure has the potential to significantly amplify brand visibility, attract new customers, and ultimately drive revenue growth.
Specifically, the loan will cover expenses associated with participating in New York Bridal Fashion Week, such as market rent, staging costs, hiring a model, and travel expenses. These investments are essential to ensure a successful and impactful presence at the event, ultimately translating into tangible returns in terms of brand recognition, customer acquisition, and revenue generation.
In summary, this loan will empower me to seize strategic opportunities, elevate brand exposure, and position ElleNelle Bridal as a trailblazer in the bridal industry. Thank you for considering my application and for your support in realizing this vision.
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
About elleNelle Bridal
Lenders and lending teams
Country: United States
Trustee: Boomin University
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Leah?
We are endorsing this applicant as they are a Black Business Boom graduate, and we believe they have a solid plan for their business and are focused on the growth of their business and improving their personal finances.
Tags
Loan tags help lenders find loans that match certain areas of interest.
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
Trustee: Boomin University
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Leah?
We are endorsing this applicant as they are a Black Business Boom graduate, and we believe they have a solid plan for their business and are focused on the growth of their business and improving their personal finances.
You are opting out of using Free Trial.
You have selected to not use your Free Trial and will be prompted to pay for this loan using your own money.
Agree Use a Free TrialShoot! This loan is ineligible.
Your free credit can't be applied to this loan. If you would like to make a loan to this borrower anyway, you will have to use your own money.
Lend Anyway Find an Eligible LoanYou cannot use your Free Trial to support this loan.
Free Trials cannot be used to make loans during their private fundraising period on Kiva. If you would like to lend to this borrower anyway, you will have to use your own money.
Agree Find an Eligible Loan