Eucalyptus Magazine / January 2010 / Here Comes the Green Bride

Here Comes the Green Bride

Many brides dream about walking down the aisle in a gown that elicits adoration and awe. But is that gown as ecologically responsible as you are? Being true to your ideals while wearing a fabulous “green” wedding dress is easier than ever. Eco-oriented gowns are available to suit all kinds of brides, whether their style is elegant, modern, casual, or romantic. Whatever your taste, budget, or body type, you can find an eco-friendly wedding dress that will marry your fantasies and your values.

Green Designers
As consumers embrace environmentally conscious lifestyles, wedding dress designers are stepping up to accommodate them. Brides now have an array of sustainable fabrics to choose from. Designer Adele Wechsler creates romantic gowns for her “eco-couture collection” from vegetable-dyed silks, and incorporates fabric remnants into their designs to cut down on material waste. Design firm Olivia Luca offers affordable, custom-designed gowns with fabric options including fair-trade, hand-woven, silk organza; organic cotton sateen; and a lustrous hemp and silk charmeuse blend—proving that you don’t have to sacrifice luxury to be eco-friendly. You pick the design elements—fabric, bodice style, neckline, and skirt shape and length—and Olivia Luca creates the dress of your dreams. Even if you don’t buy the dress, it’s fun just to get on the website and play designer for an hour or so.

Adele Wechsler’s Eco-Couture Collection $1,500 to $4,000 at Marina Morrison Bridal Salon, San Francisco; ; adelewechsler.com or marinamorrison.com

Olivia Luca $500 to $1,000 for custom-designed dresses; ; olivialuca.com

More eco-friendly designers
nicolelenzen.com Based in New York, Nicole Lenzen (aka “The Lady in Green”) offers modern, unique eco-gowns ready to wear or can create a custom gown just for you.
jessicaiverson.com This designer offers traditional gowns constructed in accordance with fair trade and labor practices, primarily made from organic hempsilk satin, a blend of silk and hemp.
naturalbridals.com This Atlanta designer showcases chic gowns infused with Southern charm and crafted with sustainable fabrics;
5 percent of their profits are donated to environmental causes.
leanimal.com Leanne Marshall, winner of the fifth season of the TV reality series Project Runway, designs modern, romantic eco-gowns with an emphasis on architectural interest.
puridee.com Puridee boasts floaty, ethereal gowns made from “peace silks,” which are spun from the cocoons of silkworms that are allowed to live out their full life cycle.

Used and Vintage Dresses
If you can do without the elegant dressing rooms and the fuss, you may be able to find your perfect gown and save a bit of cash by buying used or vintage. The first place to look is in your photo albums. Do any relatives or friends have gowns you covet? They may be thrilled to lend you their dress for your special day. If their gowns don’t quite rival your vision, visit local thrift stores, or browse through eBay, Craigslist, and Freecycle.

Robin Densten, owner of Recapture, a Berkeley boutique that specializes in reconstituting vintage gowns to suit modern brides, says, “There’s a growing number of people who are interested in the re-using aspect of vintage gowns. With vintage, you have 10 decades of different styles to choose from, so you can find something that fits your unique style.”

If your taste runs to designer gowns like Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, and Carolina Herrera, check out encorebridal.com, oncewed.com, and PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com. These are online boutiques that offer gently worn couture at discount prices, which will satisfy your need to be green and keep your wallet fat at the same time. Be sure to have your measurements handy, as sizing can differ dramatically from one designer to another. Or check out these Bay Area shops that sell vintage gowns:

San Jose’s Park Place Vintage has handmade and custom dresses from the 1920s to the 1960s priced from $100 to $700. Make a special request to see the wedding gowns; many are boxed and tucked away for safekeeping. 1318 Lincoln Ave., San Jose; ; parkplacevintage.com

Berkeley’s Recapture offers a selection of vintage gowns that the shop restyles to complement the bride’s figure and personal preference—modifying necklines, sleeves, etc.—to create a vintage gown with modern design elements. Dresses are priced from $450 to $1,500. Alterations and redesigning prices range from $200 to $500. 1807 University Ave., Berkeley; ; recapturedesigns.com

Berkeley’s Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles offers vintage wedding dresses from the 1890s to the 1970s. Most are from 1900 to 1910. Specialties include Chantilly, Venice, and re-embroidered Alençon laces. Dresses range from $75 to $2,000. 2982 Adeline St., Berkeley; ; lacis.com

Web sources for vintage dresses
vintagevixen.com A good selection of vintage gowns that have never been worn, many priced under $500.
poshgirlvintage.com A stylish array of quality vintage gowns dating mostly to the 1950s and 1960s.
cherishedbride.com Vintage restored gowns from the 1930s to 1960s, plus accessories to complete the look.
thefrock.com Impeccably maintained, expensive couture and designer vintage gowns.
vintagewedding.com Moderately priced vintage and Victorian gowns, veils, jewelry, and shoes.

Handmade Gowns
Are you vying for a spot on Project Runway? If you’re skilled with your sewing machine or know a dressmaker whose creations delight you, consider purchasing your own sustainable fabrics—hemp, silk, organic cotton, or vintage lace—and have your dress made. You can find gown patterns online or work with your tailor to create your own unique look. Erin Algeo, shop manager of Lacis in Berkeley, says, “I love when someone comes in and buys old fabric and brings it to a seamstress to have their dress made.” As vintage fabrics can be very delicate, be sure to choose a tailor who has experience working with fragile materials.

Rental Gowns
Since you are only going to wear your dress for one day, renting is also an option. You can outfit your whole bridal party—bride, groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen—at Phuong Trinh Bridal and Tuxedo Rental. A typical gown, veil, and accessories rent for about $250, and that includes alterations and cleaning. 1207 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose;

Vintage Accessories
Once you’ve found the dress, you’ll need to accessorize. For gorgeous vintage shoes, handbags, and jewelry, head to It’s a Girl Thing. 860 Willow St., San Jose; ; itsagirlthinginc.com

Happily Ever After
Whatever dress you choose, it’s bound to be wrapped up with wonderful memories of your wedding day. While some brides elect to box up their freshly laundered gowns indefinitely, consider giving it new life by reselling your dress or donating it to a local nonprofit. You’ll make some room in your closet and help out others at the same time. Some nonprofits, such as Brides Against Breast Cancer, use the proceeds from the sale of wedding gowns to assist families in need. With a life-affirming decision like this, no bride will lament the fact that her beautiful gown was only enjoyed for a single day.

Also read: Say "I Do" to a Green Wedding and Eco-Bling