The Zero-Waste Wedding Dress

I love the raw emotion when a bride first tries on her dress. It’s always a privilege for me to create a dress and share this moment with her. A wedding dress is always special, but never more so than when it has been crafted from pieces of inherited lace, hand-made by her grandmother or even great-grandmother, perhaps long passed.

For that moment time evaporates and she feels the connection deeply. I am not just creating a dress, but an heirloom to be passed down to her own daughter, infused with love and a with story to tell.

 

Our Edwardian inspired dress was originally designed to utilise small scraps of antique lace left over from making other dresses. Our zero-waste policy is what led me to design this wacky patchwork dress, and I wasn’t even that drunk.

Much to my surprise our zero-waste Edwardian dress became so popular that we soon ran out of lace scraps. Like a magpie I began frenetically collecting small pieces of antique lace and collars from around the globe. I’m quite sure my postman thought I was a hoarder.

Meanwhile brides began requesting to incorporate their own pieces of sentimental lace into their wedding dresses. An idea was born.

You want more than just a dress, you want a dress with a story. You want a one-of-a-kind dress crafted by a single set of hands, not a production line.

This dress was recently featured in a photo shoot at beautiful Breenhold Gardens, location of the The Great Gatsby movie. Like a piece of heirloom lace, Breenhold has a rich history, passed down through generations. Each garden unfolds it’s hidden beauty, like an old embroidered tablecloth tucked away at the back of a linen cupboard, the eucalyptus trees stitched across the landscape.

It was here at Breenhold Gardens that a team of skilled artists led by Edith from Floral Ink, created a photo shoot which far surpassed anything I could ever have imagined. For an entire day, time evaporated and we were transported into yesteryear. I began to wonder if I had pressed the history button too many times in Photoshop.

Two forest nymphs appeared dancing in this dreamy landscape. Photographer Tim Williamscaptured their ethereal presence, as if straight from a Norman Lindsay painting.

Talented florist Edith from Floral Ink, created the whimsical flower crowns and arrangements.

I was born the daughter of a nurse, but my hands were made for creative work. My mother taught me to sew, as her mother taught her. Her blood runs through my hands as I nervously make the first cut into the heirloom lace. I feel the energy of it’s journey, and realise I am part of something bigger than myself. I remember to trust in the process, that the finished dress will be beautiful, because it is part of a greater plan.

We would love to design an Edwardian-style dress with you. We can incorporate any vintage lace you may have, or we can make your dress entirely from our own stash of antique lace. For more details, including lace samples, please email us at hello@lostinparis.com.au