EcoZeal

Wedding gowns usually involve yards of expensive fabric and are worn only once. Still, the fashion industry is turning to unconventional materials such as hemp and turning out some surprisingly gorgeous gowns.

Take the creations of Crystal Miller, owner and designer for Conscious Clothing. Many of her gowns are constructed out of a hemp satin that resembles raw silk. “The hemp and silk aren’t much different,” says Miller. “They look similar and it’s much more beautiful.”

She started working with organic fabrics in 1995, making ready-to-wear garments out of hemp silk blends. Four years after selling her garments at festivals, she began to use her skills for custom-made wedding dresses.

Crystal tries to make her line as “green” as possible, avoiding sweatshops and using pesticide-free hemp that uses less water and enriches the soil. Her dresses keep in tune with the current fashion trends.

But Crystal is only one of many designers and companies now specialising in green and ethical fabrics for wedding gowns and dresses. It is one of the fastest growing areas of the green side of the fashion industry and it’s not difficult to see why. What bride wouldn’t want to get married in a fabulous gown that was created in an environmentally friendly manner?

But if you thought that this is a new trend in weddings you couldn’t be further from the truth because, for example, in Japan hemp has long been the traditional fabric of choice for both the bride and groom.

Follow this link for a pre-constructed Google search to see the huge variety of ecological options available, whether in traditional or modern bridal wear.