Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something…Green
4 Tips for Ethical Wedding Dress Shopping
No matter which dress or attire eco-conscious couples choose, sustainability matters when choosing wedding outfits and we can help you point them in the right direction. Purchasing an ethical wedding ensemble can take into consideration many aspects, so how can you help brides and couples on their sustainable wedding attire journey?
Assisting couples with making an ethical wedding dress or bridal wear choice is simple. Talk to your couple to determine their personal style and values. Establishing which aspects of sustainability matter most to them will guide the search. Once the couple has an idea as to which ethical aspects they would like to prioritise, you can begin to narrow down sustainable brands.
You can also guide couples to delightful second-hand finds, re-worn or altered heirlooms, vintage gowns, sustainably-made modern dresses, ethical gowns from a non-traditional hue, or mix-and-match separates that allow for unique and totally customizable looks that can be worn again. We’ve curated a top-notch list of some of our favourite ethical tips and eco-friendly businesses, and we’re excited to share them with you!
1. Choose Sustainable Materials.
Thankfully, there are now more eco-friendly options than ever before, allowing couples to express themselves and their style ethically and in keeping with their earth-kind values. We love Silviyana and Co. for their gorgeous and ethical gowns, which are lovingly crafted from hand-woven pineapple and banana-based fabrics. They offer beautifully unique designs with custom shorter hems, detachable sleeves and skirts, crop tops, and more which allows brides to completely personalizable gowns and separates. Brides can shop at www.silviyana.com for the full experience!
Photo Credit: Silviyana and Co
Kathryn Bass Bridal (Vancouver) is another amazing company proud to offer Made-to-Order and Fully Custom ethically-crafted wedding dresses. At Kathryn Bass Bridal, Kelsey and Kathryn work directly with brides to design and create unique and beautiful Canadian-made gowns. We dig that they offer inclusive and custom sizing alike, as well as a gorgeous Vancouver showroom and studio for local brides. All of their dresses are handmade in their Vancouver studio too! Brides can browse their gorgeous styles and request more information at kathrynbass.ca
Photo Credit: Kathryn Bass Bridal
2. Consider Thrifting.
Another eco-luxe option for brides-to-be is to consider shopping for a second-hand wedding dress. Not only is thrifting much friendlier on brides’ wallets, it’s easy to find more unique or vintage gowns that brides are unlikely to see elsewhere, helping to ensure a one-of-a-kind beautiful fit for their wedding day.
Brides can check out La Laurel Bridal Consignment’s ethical, eco-friendly curated collection of wedding dresses and attire in Vancouver to reduce their carbon footprint and give a gently pre-loved wedding gown new life for their big day. Not only is a second-hand wedding dress a great way to be more eco-conscious and sustainable, it’s also a really great way for brides to be more budget-conscious as well. Guide couples to www.lalaurelbridal.com so that they can learn more and browse beautiful styles!
Photo Credit: La Laurel Bridal
The Dressy Attic Consignment Boutique in BC’s Fraser Valley is another excellent option for eco-brides who may find themselves with a shorter gown-shopping window than they’d like. Finding a pre-owned wedding dress is a great choice when one may not have time to wait for an ordered dress! The Dressy Attic is owned and run by two sisters, Alessandra and Sharayah, who love styling brides and matching them with the eco dresses of their dreams. This locally owned business allows brides to browse their full inventory online, then book a try-on appointment, where they’re attended by 1-2 dress consultants who assist with all aspects of the process. Brides can peep their current styles here: thedressyattic.ca
Photo Credit: The Dressy Attic
3. Rent A Wedding Dress.
We’ve been loving the dress rental trend that’s been happening lately, but beyond the wallet-friendly savings, there’s the ability to give back to the planet! There are some delightful rentable options for brides to peruse to find the perfect eco-conscious gown for their wedding day.
Rent The Runway (US) boasts beautiful options for brides to rent, but they also have hundreds of gorgeous designer gowns for wedding guests as well. We also love that they offer subscription options for those who would like to rent a bridal gown, then continue to rent beautiful, stylish pieces for their honeymoon, everyday wardrobe, work occasions, and more!
Photo Credit: Rent the Runway
Fitzroy Rentals (Toronto) showcases quite a number of inspiring wedding dresses for the chill bride, destination weddings, formal, casual, and all types of other fun occasions as well. They offer everything from gorgeous, one-of-a-kind gowns, bags, and more! We love that they have gowns & accessories grouped by occasion, making it easy for brides or wedding guests to easily select occasion-appropriate items matching their level of formal or casual, while staying true to their individual style. Brides can get familiar here: www.fitzroyrentals.com
Photo Credit: The Fitzroy: Dress Rental Magic
4. Purchase from Ethical Companies
i.e. Those Who Pay their Employees Fairly and Prioritise Safe and Healthy Working Conditions.
Another essential consideration for eco-conscious brides is a wedding gown’s source. Many couples would love to know that their purchase supports an ethical company that gives back to their employees and the earth. Some facets for couples to factor in are employee wages and working conditions. We love to support companies and small businesses that pay their employees a fair wage and ensure safe and kind working conditions, knowing it helped the people who contributed to making a beautiful gown or accessories.
Truvelle Bridal (Vancouver) creates made-to-order dresses for the modern, elegant bride. Their styles are gorgeous, but not fussy, and include many unconventional elements for a truly unique wedding gown. Most importantly, their site has a Behind the Seams: Meet Your Makers section where brides can get to know the women who design and create their dresses. We love Truvelle because putting women first is a central pillar in their company values. Their dresses are sustainably crafted and their inspiration is beautiful and compelling. Check them out at truvelle.com
Photo Credit: Truvelle Bridal
Laudae Bridal (Vancouver) is another one of our sustainable favourites. They keep all of their design, marketing, admin, shipping, quality control, and production under one roof and consider eco-impacts wherever possible. We love their commitment to inclusive sizing, diversity and equity as well as their charming, modern wedding dresses. They also offer cool Trunk Shows at local retailers so brides-to-be can try on a full variety of styles and sizes to find the perfect gown for their big day. Connect with Laudae Bridal here www.laudae.com
Photo Credit: Laudae Bridal
For brides who prefer a more minimalistic aesthetic, Aesling (Vancouver) offers fresh and sophisticated takes on bridal gowns with clean lines and simple, but beautiful elegance. Aesling works with a skilled group of local technicians to handcraft made-to-order wedding dresses with clean lines and timeless style. View their collection at aesling.com
Photo Credit: Aesling
Another fresh, modern take on bridal gowns is a more rewearable style instead of a traditional dress with an elaborate-yet-impractical train. By purchasing mix-and-match separate pieces, a shorter, or less formal dress or attire, brides can opt to wear their gown again and again for various occasions. We love Fern and Moon’s beautiful, waste-free line full of stylish, rewearable pieces. Their eco mix-and-match selection allows brides to choose tops and bottoms in different sizes, reducing the need for alterations and significantly increasing the odds that brides will wear their wedding look over and over, reliving the magic of their special day on different occasions. Learn more on their website fernandmoon.com
Photo Credit: Fern and Moon
Pure Magnolia’s sustainable bridal fashion (North Vancouver) caters to the bride who expects more, but also wants the option to rewear her gown again and again. Hand-made in Vancouver, Pure Magnolia’s dresses are designed with eco-impact, sustainability for employees and the environment, and aesthetic in mind. Their dreamy, modern dresses are ethically made from natural fabrics and they focus on employee wages and reducing waste throughout their efforts and process. Discover more puremagnolia.ca
Photo Credit: Pure Magnolia
These are just a handful of the amazing sustainable wedding gown options available to eco-conscious brides.
We’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments below!