Bridal firm in crisis: Gowns vanish as brides are left at the altar
In a troubling tale that has left several brides-to-be distraught, a Manchester-based bridal company, Je Roche, has been accused of failing to deliver wedding dresses, with some brides left scrambling for alternatives just days before their big day. The company's manager, Mohammed Farid Anwar, 24, has blamed a robbery at his Bradford store for the delays, but the brides, who have paid thousands of pounds in deposits, say they have been left in the lurch.
Brides left without dresses
One bride, aged 21, who asked not to be named, paid a £1,600 deposit in December last year for a gown that was supposed to be made in Pakistan. The dress was meant to arrive by May 10, but it never showed up. Now, with her wedding day on August 10 approaching, she has given up hope. 'I'm quite frustrated, very worried and quite stressed,' she told the Manchester Evening News. Her mother added: 'We put our full trust in them since December and they don't understand the pain and anxiety they have caused.'
Another bride paid a £1,450 deposit in January but her dress also failed to arrive by June 15. She eventually married in Bolton last week in a second dress she sourced herself directly from a designer in Pakistan. 'I saw a post from the designer saying he was no longer working with Je Roche and I started panicking,' she said.
Manager blames robbery
Mr Anwar, who runs Je Roche from its shop on Kingsway in Levensulme, insisted that the dresses for these brides were 'completed' and 'ready' to be posted from Pakistan. He blamed a 'big robbery' at his Bradford store on June 9, during which he claims he was assaulted and dresses worth £50,000 were stolen. 'They trapped us inside the shop and they took keys off me and took my phone off me and I could not call the police,' he said.
He said the incident had a 'huge impact' on the business, but he insisted he communicated with the brides and that their deposits would be returned in time. 'I understand it's been traumatic for them but as far as I'm concerned I communicated with them as soon as I possibly could,' he said.
Trustpilot reviews paint a grim picture
The allegations are echoed by other brides who have left scathing reviews on Trustpilot. One said she paid a £2,400 deposit for a designer dress that never showed up, forcing her to accept an off-the-rack gown just two days before her wedding. 'No bride should be collecting her wedding dress at the last minute under that level of pressure,' she wrote.
Mr Anwar suggested not all the reviews were from genuine customers, insisting the business had a 'huge amount of happy brides' who had not left public reviews. But the pattern of complaints raises serious questions about the company's practices.
Company's background under scrutiny
Records at Companies House show that the sole director of Jeroche Designer Labels Ltd is Javeria Anwar, who Mr Anwar said was his mother. Mr Anwar himself is the sole director of a bridal jewellery firm, Iberris Official Ltd, which operates from Je Roche. His address is listed as a large detached property on Chapel Lane in Hale Barns, though his father and grandmother told the Manchester Evening News he no longer lives there.
Mr Anwar was also the director of two now-dissolved businesses in Longsight: Toffee Fashion Ltd and FA Clothing Ltd. This pattern of dissolved companies may give pause to those considering doing business with him.
Police investigate robbery
A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers were called to Je Roche's Bradford store on Hardaker Street following reports of a robbery during which clothing and jewellery was taken. Four suspects have been arrested and released on bail pending further enquiries.
As the wedding season continues, these brides are left to wonder whether they will ever see their money or their dream dresses. For now, the company's shop in Levensulme remains shuttered, and the brides are left with little more than promises.
FAQ: What can brides do if their dress is not delivered?
Can I get my deposit back if the dress is not delivered? Yes, if the company fails to deliver the dress as agreed, you may be entitled to a full refund of your deposit. However, this can be complicated if the company claims it was ready but you cancelled.
What should I do if a bridal shop closes or goes silent? Contact the company directly, keep records of all communications, and consider reporting the matter to Trading Standards or the police if fraud is suspected.
How can I protect myself when ordering a wedding dress from abroad? Use a credit card for payment to benefit from Section 75 protection, check the company's reputation on Trustpilot and Companies House, and avoid paying large deposits upfront.