She survived the Holocaust, escaped Europe, and went on to become one of the biggest names in bridal wear. This is the story of Kleinfeld Bridal founder Hedda Kleinfeld Schachter. Born in Vienna, Austria in 1924, Hedda fled Europe with her family and found refuge in Cuba before settling in Brooklyn in 1940. Her father opened a fur store in 1941, where she met Jack Schachter. The two soon married and together expanded the store to carry suits, cocktail dresses, and eventually bridal wear. In 1968, Hedda introduced wedding dresses from European designers, which proved to be a major success, and by 1979, the store focused exclusively on bridal wear. Hedda and Jack sold the business in 1990. She passed away in 2024 at the age of 99. Today, Kleinfeld Bridal is known for having the largest selection of wedding dresses in the world, an empire built by Hedda.
Photo: Ilana Schachter
