SUSTAINABLE WEDDING DRESSES | THE NEXT BIG TREND IN BRIDAL?

OR IS IT ABOUT LEARNING TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES

Do you ever wonder just how do new trends begin and who decides?

Now I know the above term may not be new; and, the idea of a fully compostable wedding dress has not yet arrived – please let me know if I am wrong on this…lol. But I have noticed a sudden spurt of wedding articles around the topic of sustainable green weddings, ethical weddings, reformation, repurposing and #wearitagain. Have you noticed this too?

I remember having to write an essay on the “Future of Fashion” around 8 years ago and I couldn’t for the life of me consider how on earth the industry might fundamentally change – I mean it hadn’t for the last fifty years and I couldn’t imagine at the time anything that might impact it other than fashion.

But, what I failed to highlight and now wish that I had seen it coming, is how the fast pace of fashion spread to the wedding industry like wildfire, increasing the already wasteful practices from food to single use décor and of course the brides dress.

Now, I am not an advocate for mass -produced dresses. Not because I have anything against factories – everyone has to eat right! But I am against the high volumes of waste materials that ends up in landfill sites, and not just from factories but from everyone across the industry who acts irresponsibly.

For example, DID you know, that the waste material from just one wedding dress is enough to make a second garment?

Whilst the focus around sustainable wedding dresses aims to outlaw the extravagance of a ‘one wear’ dress, it shouldn’t be right that brides now need to go searching through the content label of a dress in favour of the environment. But rather that better education is key so that we have a fully formed overview of ways in which we can all do better as responsible environmentally conscious citizens of our planet.

SO HOW WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE OR ‘GREEN’ WEDDING DRESSES

Real Bride Amy | Up-cycled Green Wedding Dress | READ THIS POST TO FIND LEARN HOW

5 TIPS TO CREATING LASTING & SUSTAINABLE WEDDING DRESSES,

Invest in quality Eco friendly fabrics

Certainly no less expensive than a silk counterpart. But most definitely more hard wearing and with great recovering properties – the reputation, wear-ability and comfort of modern synthetic fabrics has changed significantly. With much of the UK textile industry producing truly admirable Eco-friendly bridal fabrics from sustainable sources such as recycled bottle top, plant fibre and eucalyptus bark

BRIDAL SEPERATES,

Are a great way to reinvent the wedding dress by wearing separates that can be re-worn individually after the big day with a lifelong contribution to your existing wardrobe, rather than be preserved as an heirloom. The secret saviour of sustainable wedding dresses is to be able to pass, share or loan items to brides further down the line, or even wear your gorgeous pieces whilst on honeymoon with jeans and heels. It doesn’t matter that your friend switches the designs up to suit her style, it will provide a fresh opportunity to see pieces worn in different ways and bring you such joy

Three-piece Bridal Separates | MARILYN LACE BRIDAL TOP | Back buttoning Lace bridal top worn with a blush tulle bridal skirt

CLICK TO SEE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS BRIDES LOOK

Eco-Friendly 2 piece bridal separates | ZAHA – handcrafted from Cluny Lace | www.ouimadam.com

REMODELLING A PRE-LOVED OR HANDED DOWN WEDDING DRESS,

Reusing a pre-loved wedding dress is such an exciting ‘feel good’ way to shop responsibly, get the dress of your dreams and create a unique design at the same time. Start by visiting preowned wedding dress sites, vintage wedding dress sites and even exploring what your mom may have hidden away in the loft.

Don’t be put off if the dress has turned grey and is discoloured. As depending on the design, there may be yards and yards of material with which to play with. And most dresses that were originally made from pure silk will save you a fortune in material costs. Recreating an existing dress as separates or reusing parts of it like the lace for example, are all creative ways to give fresh life to an existing dress.

. vintage wedding dress bride wearing remodelled wedding dress

Before photo of a 1980’s Silk Wedding Dress worn by brides Mum Silk re-used to create a new design for daughter

See more of this real brides Re-purposed wedding dress

DESIGNING SUSTAINABLE WEDDING DRESSES | DRESSES THAT ARE BUILT TO LAST,

If you have ever spoken to a bride after a wedding, the first thing she will tell you is how much she enjoyed wearing her dress and the fact that she did not want to ever have to take it off. So, armed with this valuable insight is an opportunity to use the information to benefit your design.

Consider styles with longevity and where possible dye, alter, remodel and restyle your wedding dress for later use.

Real Bride wearing a Silk Wedding Dress to be dyed post wedding

Credit | https://www.rsbrownphotography.com/

JULES BESPOKE WEDDING AT HEDSOR HOUSE

Eco Friendly Bridal Jumpsuit

CHOOSING A ETHICAL WEDDING DRESS DESIGNER,

With Eco fashion becoming so popular, the trend in growth is certain to provide smaller independent businesses with a head start. As many in this sector, are by nature, more likely to be operating a zero waste policy purely to stay afloat. Ask to see fabric ranges that are organically produced, sustainably sourced, or better still, shop local and request British made designs

www.ouimadam.com | Bespoke & Eco Friendly Wedding Dress Designer London | Credit | https://www.rsbrownphotography.com/

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TESTIMONIAL
“ I just wanted to say that I absolutely LOVED the work you did for me last week. The dress was a huge success — I felt beautiful/classic/sexy/skinny/wonderful, and that is largely thanks to you and your genius…Really, you did a fantastic job. I will certainly be passing your details along to all of my friends who are getting married/going to literally any event.”
Best,

Kathryn