To have people look at her with awe is every bride’s dream. But what’s better than a gorgeous wedding dress that is also sustainable and eco-friendly? Designers are putting their best foot forward with figure flattering silhouettes and unique designs creating a new ‘sustainable’ wave. Why buy a lehenga that costs lakhs that you can never wear again, when you can still stun people by keeping it low key and elegant.
Samant Chauhan, an Indian Designer says, “There have always been bright colours for weddings but brides today want to try something different and the designers are trying to cater to those tastes. Brides these days don’t prefer a lot of embroidery and want to try something different.”
What works for the designers:
With consumers becoming more socially conscious, the designers are also falling in line by up cycling and using fabrics like silk, cotton silk, hand woven fabrics, cotton, zari and more. People these days are going in for modern and contemporary wedding wear that sets them apart from all the jazziness. Anaka Narayanan, another well known designer says, “Since bridal wear is typically worn only once, up cycling an old saree or wearing something eco-friendly increases the chances to be worn more often, making the process sustainable.” Swati Kalsi, an Indian designer adds, “Sustainable bridal wear is a strong move for the designers. It’s a way to make something different and also make a quick buck at the same time.”
What works for the brides:
Brides have a lot to deal with during weddings, be it the heavy lehenga or the trauma of smudged mascara. The lighter fabrics are soothing on the skin and perfect for a sangeet or haldi function where you can sing and dance in ease. Some of the colours that dominate this trend are white, beige, gold, ivory, burgundy. If you are someone who likes colour, then pastel colours are the thing for you. Anaka tells us why brides are moving towards the eco friendly trend: “The ensemble looks more contemporary and reflective of who they are. Some brides like giving a modern twist to their dress which makes them gravitate towards a look that still uses natural fabrics but in a different way,” she notes. However, this trend might not be something everyone would opt for because some might still like the traditional embroidered ones. However, this trend works well with someone who likes to experiment with new styles. Swati tells us how, “People want to come over old patterns and try something new. It’s good to experiment rather than buying a dress with a lot of investments.
