Medicine Hat dress shop in hot water as grads allege their orders were not fulfilled

With a month to go, some Medicine Hat students have been left scrambling to find grad dresses, after they say a local bridal shop won't fulfill their orders.

MEDICINE HAT, ALTA. — With less than a month until graduation, some high school students in Medicine Hat have been left without grad dresses after they allege a local boutique failed to fulfill their orders.

Samantha Wojcichowsky is set to graduate from Medicine Hat High School in June.

Her mom, Tara Wojcichowsky, said they found the perfect dress at Magic Moments Bridal and purchased it nearly nine months ago.

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“I ordered the dress on Sept. 27 of last year and by February I had contacted her asking her when, or if, (there was) any news of when my daughter’s dress was arriving,” said Tara.

Tara says she was told the $800 dress would be here by March.

“A couple weeks ago, I contacted (the store owner) by phone and she said it’s in Calgary and it’ll be here this week,” explained Tara.

After more back-and-forth conversations, Tara says she contacted the designer directly and found out it was never ordered in the first place.

“We found out suppliers and designers were not paid, so the dresses are not being shipped,” said Tara.

“Some of them have been sold to other stores because suppliers have been waiting so long for their payments that they can no longer hold the dresses.”

The co-owner of U.S. fashion design house AMARRA told CTV News it produced more than 70 dresses for the store, but the owner has refused to pay for them.

“Out of the 70 dresses, I estimate that 40-50 were special ordered, meaning they were custom ordered for specific customers, often for milestone events like graduation,” said Kunal Madan.

He estimates between US$50,000 and $65,000 was paid by customers to Magic Moments Bridal for AMARRA gowns but says his company has not received any payment.

“From October to April, every week we called, and she said, ‘Next week I’ll take them in,’” said Madan, adding some orders were never placed with AMARRA in the first place.

“I think she was taking orders with the intent not to fulfill them. Obviously, my business has lost money from all of this.”

CTV News reached out to Magic Moments Bridal multiple times by email, phone and visited the shop but did not hear back by publication.

Its website says it is temporarily closed except for pre-booked fittings and try-on appointments. It also says to email about refunds.

“I’m very angry at the situation,” said Tara.

“I’m very disgusted with how people have been abused by this in the community and surrounding areas.”

Other designers and suppliers with ties to Magic Moments Bridal have confirmed they are also awaiting payment from the store.

“I can’t imagine being a bride and ordering at that store anymore because there’s no trust, like, what are you going to do? Wait six months and your wedding gown doesn’t show up,” said Madan.

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) says it received 18 police reports on the matter and an investigation has been launched.

“We have to determine that this isn’t a supply chain issue and there’s greater factors here – decisions made by the vendor – intentionally to defraud or withhold the product,” said S/Sgt. Cody Both, with the MHPS criminal investigation unit.

No charges have been laid as police investigate whether the situation is more than just a civil issue, according to Both.

“In order for us to do an investigation, we really need things like when was the garment ordered? What were the circumstances? How did you pay? What receipts were provided? What correspondence or communication was between them and the vendor?” explained Both.

MHPS says anyone impacted by a similar situation can reach out through its non-emergency line at 403 529-8481 to file a report.

Police suggest people also reach out to the dress designer directly.