January 13, 2022
In the age of fast fashion and the awareness brought to unfair labor practices, more and more brides are becoming mindful about sustainable choices when planning their weddings- and that includes shopping for wedding dresses.
The good news is that it’s not difficult to do! A few little tweaks in the way you shop is all it takes to make a positive impact.
If you’re interested in how you can make eco friendly choices when shopping for your wedding dress, we have 5 tips to make it easy. Let’s dive right in!
The less your dress has to travel, the less of a carbon footprint it leaves behind. That’s why shopping local is the way to go when it comes to sustainability. From dresses to accessories, you can find unique and stylish creations right at home- pieces that no one else will have the luxury of wearing on their wedding day.
But most of all, by supporting local artisans and small businesses, you are putting money back into your community and helping your neighbors make a living instead of large, wealthy international corporations.
There’s no bond like that between members of a community, and that’s something corporations just can’t put a price on.
It’s always a good idea for brides to be informed about the different types of wedding dress fabrics out there before going to their bridal appointment. It helps you get a feel for the various characteristics and what you like.
If sustainability is what you’re after, nowadays it’s easy to find wedding dresses made using ethical materials- even if the designer is not considered to be sustainable.
Look for keywords such as vegan, sustainably grown, organic or fair trade. Generally, fair trade fabrics are a little bit more expensive, but that means that the factory that manufactured the dress fairly compensates its workers.
If you’re in a time crunch, a fast way to ensure you’re making the most eco friendly choice is by looking for designers who identify as ethical (and yes, they’re out there).
The reason why this is convenient is because these designers are already well versed in the most sustainable practices and fabrics, so you don’t have to do all of the research yourself.
At Love Bridal Boutique, ask about our sustainable collection designed by Scout. Handmade in New York, they ship in recycled materials to create their gorgeous designs, and even their gown tags are made from flower seeds! They also plant a tree for every gown purchased. You can check out Scout here.
Some brides dream of hanging onto their wedding dress as a family heirloom for future generations, while others have no qualms about giving it up after the big day. Either way, your dress is yours to do as you so please!
If you don’t have any plans for your gown after your wedding, an eco friendly option is to sell or donate it. This recycles a dress worn for only one day and gives a bride on a budget the chance to score her dream dress.
Wedding dress preservation is paramount after your wedding day, and this is another area where you can get down with the green.
Simply look for a professional cleaner that utilizes environmentally friendly products and processes to preserve wedding dresses, either by searching online or calling them up and asking how they do their thing.
