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C l o t h i n g a n d J e w e l l e r y
A lot of effort, materials and energy goes into creating a brand new wedding dress, only to be worn for a few hours in its life. There are many alternatives to this wasteful and costly approach.
‘Something Old’ from the traditional wedding saying is something you can embrace for your wedding day. Re-using materials for clothing and jewellery not only helps the environment and saves you money; it can also provide a unique and sentimental touch.
Vintage is in and what better way to save precious resources than to re-use. With a little bit of research, you can find some incredible gowns at reasonable prices.
If vintage isn’t your style, consider taking your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding dress and have a designer make a new design with the fabric. This is fun, sentimental and eco-friendly.
If you are set on having your own new dress, consider environmentally friendly fabrics, made from natural. These are becoming more readily available and include organic cotton, linen, silk and hemp. These fabrics are made from raw materials and grown according to organic standards. There are some great wedding options emerging, such as organic tweed suits and Hemp Silk (60%/40%) Charmeuse which is perfect for wedding gowns.
Whilst silk is an environmentally friendly natural fibre free of chemicals, it is worth considering the ethics behind production. Many silk workers (including children) in developing nations are subject to deplorable conditions. Look to organisations like Oxfam, Traid Craft, and Silken Dalliance where they can recommend ethical suppliers.
Hiring suits and dresses is a great way to lower you’re the environmental impact of your clothing. You only need to use it for when you need it and then it gets re-used multiple times.
If you’re not too attached, consider selling your dress once your day is finished. It doesn’t do much good sitting in the cupboard and it could be re-used several times, avoiding the need for new dresses to be produced.
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T I P S F O R Y O U R
G R E E N W E D D I N G
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Search vintage and retro shops or specialised stores for fabulous reusable pieces. Look for bridesmaids and groomsmen items while you are there
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Ask your parents or grandparents (and future in-laws) about what jewellery you could borrow for the day. You might be pleasantly surprised
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Search for more modern, though second hand dresses, clothing and jewellery on online stores such as Ebay
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Hire suits and dresses through reliable companies
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Find local designers to help you reuse materials
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