Halfpenny London targets US bridal market with new Head of Wholesale

British luxury bridal brand Halfpenny London is eyeing expansion in the US wedding market with the “strategic hire” of Charlotte Lepre-Slater as Head of Wholesale.

Lepre-Slater brings over a decade of specialised experience driving international sales development for elite British heritage brands, with expertise spanning ready-to-wear, eveningwear and the luxury bridal sector.

She joins Halfpenny London from Temperley London, where she elevated its global footprint as Head of Wholesale and Head of Sales - Bridal.

Prior to that, she spent over eight years with luxury British designer brand Jenny Packham, where she scaled the international bridal business across independent stockists, drove market entries into emerging territories and managed global sales agents.

In her new role, Lepre-Slater will lead the brand’s global wholesale strategy, with a particular focus on deepening Halfpenny London’s presence across key US metropolitan luxury markets and extending its reach into carefully selected regional territories.

She will also oversee the introduction of exclusive capsule collections tailored to the North American market and will spearhead the brand’s investment in its independent boutique partners.

Kate Halfpenny, founder and designer of Halfpenny London, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Charlotte Lepre-Slater to the Halfpenny London family as our new Head of Wholesale. Charlotte’s profound understanding of the global luxury bridal landscape and her incredible track record with iconic British brands make her the perfect leader for our next chapter.

“The US market holds immense opportunity for us, and with Charlotte leading the charge, we are incredibly excited to bring our unique British heritage and contemporary designs to even more brides across North America while continuing to champion the independent retailers who are the heartbeat of our industry.”

Lepre-Slater added: “I am delighted to be joining the Halfpenny London team. I have long admired Kate’s iconic bridal collections, celebrated for their contemporary craftsmanship and directional approach to bridal design.

“I look forward to building on the brand’s exceptional reputation by expanding the wholesale business, strengthening its presence across the US, and developing lasting partnerships with leading retailers globally.”

Halfpenny London, which has a flagship boutique in Bloomsbury, London, was founded by Kate Halfpenny in 2005, originally as a bespoke bridal dress business born from private commissions and driven solely by word of mouth and her reputation for styling some of the world’s most coveted VIPs, including Cate Blanchett, Emilia Fox, Kate Moss and Rihanna.