Whilst we are all more mindful of being eco-conscious, the term sustainable wedding dress perhaps doesn’t get a bride to be super excited at first glance. But the world of conscious fashion today has so much to offer that any soon-to-be-wed ought to be checking it out. Gone are the days of the only eco option being to wear your Mum’s old wedding dress (which is still a good option in our opinion), now there are an array of options that mean you can look and feel amazing but still be sure to reduce your impact on our precious planet.
Rental
Obviously, we think (and know from all the great testimonials we get) that this is a great route for many brides. Renting your wedding dress enables brides to still choose from a range of stunning, high-quality garments. The styles on offer range from timeless classic silhouettes to more contemporary designs. Wedding dress rental works on the premise that dresses are borrowed for a period and then returned after the big event to be worn by future brides. This cyclical approach means the dress has a much longer life, being worn and passed on from bride to bride, rather than being discarded in the loft, or under the bed to never be worn again. The added benefits aren’t just limited to the positive impact this option has on fashion waste, in addition to that, renting means that costs are reduced due to not having to buy the dress outright – a win-win for the wedding budget and the planet! To explore rental further, take our ‘are you ready’ quiz and then browse the Something Borrowed collection here.
Second-Hand
Another well-known way to reduce your footprint when looking to get that wedding dress ticked off your to-do list is to opt for second-hand. Giving something that is no longer needed, a second chance, is another great way to reduce fashion waste and lower the demand for new production. Now second-hand comes in many shapes and sizes, quite literally! Finding the dress of your dreams in the right size can be a little more challenging, however, it can be done. Our advice if this is the route for you, is to start early, look everywhere, and get your bride tribe in on the search too – many eyes makes light looking. So where to look we hear you ask, we mentioned it earlier but if your mother has her old dress that may be an option, otherwise start checking out resale websites where brides are selling their previously worn dresses, then look at charity shops, online social marketplaces, and even car boots – you just never know what you will find. Finally, we recommend getting the dress cleaned and freshened up before your big day.
Vintage
Vintage clothing tends to be defined as any garments that are 20 or more years old. Vintage has long been recognised as a source of beautiful one-off pieces that celebrate some element of the past. When teamed with an array of accessories, vintage wedding dresses, can be part of a well-thought-out and stylish bridal look. Again, giving something old another chance means it avoids landfill, but sizing can be a challenge, particularly as historical sizing doesn’t translate that well to today’s sizing charts therefore, we recommend trying the garment on before buying. One final thought is that depending on the age and designer of the piece, vintage dresses can still be quite an expense, so consider that when planning that all-important wedding budget.
Ethical Designers
In more recent years, many independent designers have been focussing on producing ethical wedding dresses for the more sustainably conscious brides. This route is great for brides who still want a new dress but want to know it has been made in a way that affects the planet less. Obviously, new production still means resources are being used to create that piece, so do check out the designer’s commitment to sustainability and check the measures they are taking to live up to their ethos. You can find a range of these designers by researching online. Again, when buying new, you don’t necessarily have the cost savings that rental offers and you do need to consider what you will do with your dress after the big day – we hate to think of it being unloved in the back of the wardrobe.
Whatever the right route for you, we are so pleased that there are many more options for today’s bride to consider the impact of her wedding dress on the planet, and actionable steps that can be taken to reduce fashion waste. If you would like to explore renting more, then please get in touch to discuss how it works and learn more about our home try-on service. Don’t forget we also stock a range of second-hand and preloved dresses, so check the