Will Your Eco Credentials Extend To An Eco Wedding Dress?

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There has been an increasing trend towards eco-friendly products in all areas of life as people become more concerned about damage to the environment, even in the fashion industry but how many people choose to take this as far as choosing an eco wedding dress. Weddings however have become an epitome of luxury and extravagant spending as we seek the perfect day, which customarily means the best of everything we can afford. How does the eco concept fit with this? Is it seen as a compromise or another opportunity for one up man ship? The increasing trend for eco-friendly wedding dresses suggests that you can have the best of everything and still reflect your environmental and social concerns.

There is no need to sacrifice style for ethics as the range of eco-friendly dresses is increasing rapidly with a range of styles and fabrics available. For the ethical bride one answer is to find someone who produces wedding dresses made from eco-friendly sustainable fair trade and/or organic materials and is conscious of the social welfare of the workers who are involved in producing the dress. Fabrics can range from organic silk to sateen, muslin and even hemp. Key things to consider are organic, fair trade, and recycled fabrics. The following UK designers all produce ethically minded wedding dresses for the bride who doesn’t want to sacrifice style or conscience: Motasem, Tammam, Julie Dutton and Blushless. As brides becoming increasingly aware of these issues, we are sure to see the big fashion houses increasingly looking to use more sustainable fabrics in their designs too.

Alternatively there is always the option of having a second-hand eco wedding dress. Unlike buying second-hand clothes from a charity shop where they will already be well worn perhaps, you can guarantee a second hand wedding dress is unlikely to show any signs of wear, after all the chances are that it has only been worn for one day. They are also one of the most affordable ways of getting an eco wedding dress.

A number of charities including Oxfam and the Red Cross as well as some smaller charities sell wedding dresses. They often collect the wedding dresses for sale in one location which means there is often an enviable choice available, even from a charity shop. This can be an opportunity to save money, re-use, and contribute to the funds of the charity selling the dress. This is definitely an environmentally friendly and socially conscious way to buy your dress. It has been even know for brides to find a second hand Vera Wang wedding dress. “Brides by Appointment” have teamed up with Barnado’s to offer new unworn wedding dresses at discounted prices. These are sourced from end of line garments or sample stocks donated by retailers and designers and you can find some fantastic designer gowns at a fraction of the normal price. All profits from the shop go to Barnardo’s, which uses them to support its work helping vulnerable children and young people.

You may even be lucky enough to have a beautiful vintage wedding dress in your family that has been handed down from generation to generation. These dresses can be cleaned and altered so that they are as good as new and are a great way of having an eco wedding dress without spending too much money. Alternatively, for those not lucky enough to own the perfect family heirloom, a burgeoning number of suppliers for vintage wedding dresses are springing up. These outlets do the hard work for you, sourcing a range of dresses from all over the world and ensuring they are cleaned, reconditioned and even teaming them with the perfect vintage accessories for you.

Image Cabaret Eco Wedding Dress by Motasem