Building Ecotopia: Green Wedding Wardrobe Considerations

by Chuck Hall

A wedding dress made of hemp

The next step in planning your green wedding is considering the apparel that the bridal party will be wearing. Of course the wedding dress is the centerpiece in any wedding wardrobe, but all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen can be dressed in Earth-friendly apparel as well. Before getting into specifics, let’s take a brief overview of the issues involved in garment selection.
If you pay a visit to your local wedding shop, you’re likely to find many wedding dresses, tuxedos and other garments made from petroleum-based synthetic fibers. The passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) sent many of the textile manufacturing jobs overseas, where lax environmental and labor laws are in place. These laws are usually inadequately enforced if enforced at all. Even some natural fibers commercially processed rely heavily on industrial agriculture techniques that require excessive use of pesticides and other chemicals.
When choosing your wedding garments, think natural fibers such as silk, wool, organic cotton and hemp. Select fabrics that have been grown organically, without the use of pesticides. If possible, try to use fabrics that retain their natural color. Avoid clothing that has been processed using chlorine bleaches. Also try to stay away from synthetic dyes. Most fabrics are also treated with chemicals to make them stain resistant and wrinkle-free. Avoid such treatments if possible.
The Hemp Industries Association (www.thehia.org) offers extensive information on the use of hemp fabrics. Their site also contains a directory of hemp clothing manufacturers. Although hemp usually has a casual look and feel, it can be more finely processed for a more formal look. Finding formal wear made of hemp may be a difficult task, so you may only want to consider this material if your wedding is a casual affair.
Silk has always been a traditional choice for wedding dresses and formal wear. It has the advantage of being widely available in a variety of styles and colors, many of which are tinted using natural, non-toxic dyes.
Another excellent choice is linen. Linen is perfect for warm weather and outdoor events. It is made from flax and makes a lint-free fabric. It is a bit less wrinkle-resistant than some other fabrics, but unless your wedding is going to be an all-day affair, this shouldn’t present too much of a problem. If you’re planning a summer wedding, you might also want to look into organic cotton. It is soft to the touch, and ‘breathes,’ an important characteristic on hot days.
If you’re not planning a spring or summer wedding, you may want to look into something a little warmer. In that case, organically grown wool is an excellent choice. The shearing of wool doesn’t require killing the sheep. Even so, you might want to investigate the supplier of your wool to determine if the animals have been ethically treated. Another consideration when using wool is that many people have allergies to wool. You certainly don’t want your bridal party scratching throughout the entire service, so you may want to ask about allergies before planning the wardrobe!
Next week we’ll look at green choices for your wedding reception party.