Erdem Moralioğlu was born in Montreal, Canada to a Turkish father and an English mother and grew up between Montreal and Birmingham, England. After graduating with a B.A. in Fashion from Ryerson University in Toronto in 2000 he moved to London and worked as an intern for Vivienne Westwood. Moralioğlu studied fashion at the Royal College of Art, and his collection had the honour of being selected to close the graduate show in 2003. He then worked with internationally renowned fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg in New York before returning to London to launch his own label in 2005. His debut collection won him the Fashion Fringe prize and he has since received numerous accolades including the 2010 British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, a highly prestigious prize of funding and mentoring awarded to one emerging fashion designer per year. His label "Erdem" is now sold globally. Known for his use of experimental textiles, vibrant prints, and detailed craftsmanship, Erdem has dressed many high profile clients for formal events and the red carpet for the red carpet and formal events including Michelle Obama, Samantha Cameron and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (now the Princess of Wales).

This dress, shown in Erdem’s Autumn/Winter 2008/9 collection was shown in the V&A exhibition ‘Ballgowns: British Glamour since 1950’ (19 May 2012- 6 January 2013). The collection was noted for its luxurious feel and rainbow colour palette at a time when the global financial crisis was first making its impact. The designer declared, "I went to town this season. From the beginning, I decided to just go all the way with what I love." Sponsorship from Taroni silks enabled him to create gowns in rich coloured lengths of double duchesse satin. This full length, strapless gown made in bright yellow duchesse is made all the more dramatic by the hand embroidered appliqué and quilted purple floral designs by Jenny King that grow up from the hem and around the skirt. These are accented by scattered chunks of asymmetric gumdrop-coloured Swarovski crystals. Bold colours and floral designs are both signature features of Erdem’s designs and he is best known for his full skirted, full length, highly feminine evening gowns.