About Freja Designer Dressmaking
Mette Baillie is an award winning Danish designer dressmaker who fell in love with Edinburgh at first sight. She launched Freja Designer Dressmaking in 1998 as a stylish and ethical alternative to the mass-produced bridal wear, evening dresses and women’s suiting available on the high street.
An adventurer at heart, Mette enjoys the freedom of the countryside and being at sea. Nature’s colours and textures are evident in much of her work and she takes inspiration from the design traditions of her Scandinavian heritage.
Mette has always loved fashion and designed her first dresses as a child before achieving her dream to study haute couture in Odense, Denmark.
She also worked in a Copenhagen fashion house before moving to Edinburgh with her Scottish husband and in Edinburgh, Freja Designer Dressmaking was born.
With the help of a small dedicated team, Mette has built a reputation for beautiful designs and attentive service. The Freja team work closely with each client to create pieces that showcase the wearer’s personality and Mette promises meticulous attention to detail. Each piece is first made in a cotton toile, before being fitted to find the perfect length, line, cut and placement for details like pockets and fastenings.
In 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023 Freja was crowned Bridal Dress Designer – Retailer of the year at the prestigious VOWS, the Scottish wedding industry service awards. In 2022 and 2023 shortlisted for supplier of Mum’s outfitter of the year and Bridal designer of the year, winning the bridal design category in 2024.
After the challenges brought to the world in 2020 onwards, Freja Designer Dressmaking diversified and now sells a small selection of ready-to-wear online.
As a new addition, Freja Designer Dressmaking Edinburgh now also offers dressmaking courses either as a monthly subscription or as one-off courses.
Outside her studio, Mette’s free spirit takes her scuba diving, travelling, and riding fast bikes with her husband.
This is a story with a very happy ending.
“Hi Mette
I had so so so so many compliments on my dress and I loved wearing it. Thank you so much for doing such a perfect job on it.
It was such a pleasure coming to see you for my dress fittings – easily one of the most enjoyable aspect of all the preparation. Without doubt, my visits to you were the single-most enjoyable part of the wedding preparations. I looked forward to them because you didn’t just design my dress but offered such support and advice. I actually missed coming for them once the wedding was over!”
bronwen x
“Mette,
I just wanted to send you a card to say a huge thank you for everything! I can’t believe such a nightmare has been turned round, you are a miracle worker!! The big day has not been yet, but I know that all the dresses is one thing I will not have to worry about at all!! I will never have a problem recommending you to any of my brides. With many many thanks,
P.s. Huge Congrats on being nominated for a VOWS award!! All the best of luck for the night.”
Gemma Marshall @ Planet
“Hi Mette – just a quickie.
Wedding was fabulous and bride radiant! Big, big thank you for my outfit which was a huge success – it was gloriously easy to wear and got me lots of compliments. See you Wednesday, but just wanted to thank you as soon as possible for making the day so special for we girls and going the extra mile for the stoles – you are a star.
Best wishes to you and your team – number 1 on the VOWS form!”
Dorothy Watson
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