If your wedding is coming up, it’s natural to want everything to be right; from the place itself to the dress or suit you decide to wear. These days, a huge part of making the perfect wedding is making sure it’s sustainable. A report by McKinsey shows that sustainability concerns are actually translating to how people are spending their money, with 78% of those with buying power saying how important a sustainable lifestyle is.
Thankfully, it’s completely doable to apply this mindset to something as huge as your big day. In a guide to planning a wedding by 77 Diamonds, the costs listed as the top considerations for the budget are the venue, rings, flowers, decoration, accommodation, transport, food, favors, and hair and makeup. Those are the same factors that you can take into account when planning for sustainable options. It will also help you map out how to encourage your guests to take eco-friendliness into account when attending.
What to Consider When Buying Sustainable Wedding Attire
Reusability
One of the first things to consider is whether or not you will be able to use the attire again. Even if this might be harder to accomplish with a gown, you can find ways to reuse your shoes, accessories, and even a suit if that’s what you are wearing. In our Guide to ‘Perfectly Pairing Shoes with Any Outfit’, you can see how easily you can reuse your shoes if you choose a versatile and comfortable pair.
Renting
If you’re certain that you’re only going to be wearing your gown for the wedding, then you may want to rent it instead of buying a garment that will just be stored away. Not only do you save on resources spent on creating new clothing but you also promote circular economy.
Going Local
When you reach out to local brands or dressmakers, you are more likely to have access to their environment and see how they produce their clothing. This can help you be more mindful of how your attire is created. Plus, you also minimize the emissions that are produced from transport.
Eco-friendly Fabric
Regardless of the means of getting the dress, you should also take a look at the fabric. Some of the ’Sustainable Materials to Look for When Shopping for Clothes’ are hemp, linen, and organic cotton. These, if sourced ethically, cause minimal environmental impact compared to other materials.
Labor Standards
It’s worth taking time to look at labor standards in use by whoever is producing your garment. These ethical guidelines are often tied together. The International Labour Organization has been pushing for labor standards that meet sustainable development goals, so it may warrant some research to ensure that you’re sourcing your wedding dress from compliant entities.
Borrowing
Why limit yourself to getting new garments? There is a lot of beauty to be found in wedding dresses passed on through the generations. If you have someone in the family or a close friend who wants to lend their gown for your use, there’s no real reason you shouldn’t take that opportunity.
Dyes
If you’re going out of the traditional white dress route, then you may also want to think about the dyes being used to produce the color on your garment. CNN’s report on the impact of colorful clothing on the environment has shown that huge bodies of water have been heavily polluted for production. Natural dyes are better for the environment, and ethical producers limit their water use so that production doesn’t lead to water waste and pollution. Whether you buy off-the-rack or have it made, try looking for dyed fabrics using closed-loop systems and plant-based pigments.
Sustainable Accessories
Fully eco-friendly attire is one of the main tips we go into in our ‘Step-by-Step Guide to a Sustainable Wedding’. Beyond your gown or suit, you can also stay sustainable by using accessories that are made with sustainable materials. Alternatively, you can also borrow accessories or make sure that they will be used again after the wedding.
Recycled Materials
Aside from inherently eco-friendly fabric, you may also want to make use of recycled materials for other aspects of your clothing. This includes your beading, decoration, lining, and other elements that complete the gown.
Ethical Brands
If you’re intent on reaching out to bridal fashion labels for your wedding, then try sticking to those that prioritize sustainability. Some amazing designers and labels that do so are Anita Dongre, Reformation, and Maison Sully, among others.
Final Thoughts
When you take these considerations to heart and put in the time and effort to practice sustainability, finding an outfit that matches the criteria should be a breeze. With the environment and ethical standards upheld by both your attire and the event itself, you can truly enjoy the wedding to its fullest. At the end of the day, it’s all about celebrating your union and doing so in a way that positively impacts the world around you.