By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.
The wedding gown is gorgeous, white and flowing. Brides will go a long way to find a dress like this one. In this case, the wedding dress came a long way too. This wedding dress is from halfway around the globe, and it is only available in one place in the United States: A bridal shop in the middle of rural Kansas.
Last week we learned about a flower business in Downs. Today we’ll learn of another remarkable business in this community.
Eve Albert is the owner of Schoen’s Bridal World in Downs. Eve is short for Evgeniya. She is originally from Russia. Eve grew up with an interest in clothing and fashion. She studied clothing design at two colleges in Russia. There she learned about sewing, custom work, and business management. Then she met a Kansan and in 2000, came to America. He was originally from Beloit and was living in Lucas at the time.
In 2009, Eve learned that Schoen’s Bridal World in nearby Downs was up for sale. This business had been founded in 1972. It had been serving brides for more than 30 years. Continue reading “Eve Albert, Schoen’s Bridal World”
