The wedding business is astonishingly untenable. The typical English marriage has a carbon footprint of about 14 and can create up to 20 kg of cheap waste during one event. 5 kilograms, not to mention the one-time employ bridal gown.
While high street style is becoming increasingly planet-conscious, with selling sites online, Vinted and Depop reigning high and rented websites surging in popularity for special occasions, bridal dresses are – rather franky – wasteful. “Wedding gowns are one of the most unsustainable aspects of the wedding business,” Jennifer Katherine Crooks, the leader and managing director of marital tailor company The Modiste, says.
© GettyHowever, a number of well-known heads are slowly and surely moving in the direction of change. Famous faces from, not to mention our very own, have demonstrated that beautiful bridal attire should n’t be restricted to a single day and are finding new ways to make it look appropriate and fresh.
The actors opening the door
Spotlighting artists who are helping create a shift, Jennifer explained: “Some example spring to mind. Last month, Princess Beatrice wore a bridal gown to Ascot, dressing it up like a regular outfit and styling it accordingly. Emma Watson attended the Earthshot Prize Awards wearing a gown made of ten different Oxfam clothes. “
Princess Beatrice, who wore her grandmother’s Norman Hartnell wedding dress to her personal epidemic celebrations with just a few small adjustments, is the imperial queen of marriage sustainability, of course. But she’s bucked the trend suddenly since.
Bring your head to the summer of 2013 when Princess Beatrice made the decision to use a long-sleeved, lace dress with decorative applique by Monique Lhuillier, a wedding designer.
She accessorized the £2,705 gown with a pearl-detail Anya Hindmarch clutch bag, JBH Millinery helmet and skinny Gianvito Rossi silk pumps, making it race-day correct.
© GettyShe even donned a Nicholas Oakwell bridal ensemble to the Serpentine Galley Summer Party in 2014, styling the stunning A-line dress with organza decorative stitching on the trousers and statement-making equipment.
A slick of scarlet lipstick, an 80s-inspired bouffant bun, lilac heels, and a lime green clutch ensured the dress looked anything but wedding-appropriate.
Emma, a Harry Potter star, had a moment for the history books. The custom creation by Harris Reed, made in collaboration with Oxfam, was created almost entirely from second-hand wedding dresses, repurposed lace bridal veils and morning jackets.
Due to eco-pioneer Emma’s red carpet moment, the frothy tulle design with delicate lace detailing on the back made headlines all over the world.
© Getty/Catherine McQueen“It’s about trying to break down the barrier of what’s a wedding dress and what’s a normal dress. Just because it’s white [doesn’t mean it’s a one-time wear ]– and you can also dye it and turn it into a different colour! ,” Jennifer explained.
Banishing the one-time wear concept
The key is to refashion and repurpose the outfit, and the better after seeing their favorite celebrities on the red carpet.
© Getty/Rossella De Berti“The great thing about fashion (and we don’t take advantage of it enough) is that it comes back around. I used to wear everything in the 1990s, and it’s suddenly back in fashion. According to Jennifer, the wedding industry might benefit from that concept.”
Jennifer’s atelier specializes in bespoke dressmaking, bridal and bridesmaid alterations, and the art of re-cherishing your wedding dress thanks to their Modify concept, which reimagines your gown and allows brides to value it for years to come. Think turning it into a silk slip, a jumpsuit, a party mini dress– even swimwear for your honeymoon.
“The industry is catching up, there’s movement into sustainable materials. But ultimately, sustainability is undermined by the fact that you’ve created another thing in the world and only ever used it once, Jennifer says. “We’re trying to change the movement. “