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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to buy my wedding dress

74 replies

maddening · 04/04/2012 14:27

from an online site that is obviously a chinese company copying designer dresses?

There are several reasons not to - the high chance of child labour and poor working conditions, the fact they are essentially stealing a design and the chance that it'll be poor quality.

but the dress is perfect and I don't know how to find out who the original designer is...

OP posts:
PurpleRomanesco · 04/04/2012 14:30

Look at this site first please

daenerysstormborn · 04/04/2012 14:30

did you see the gok wan programme about the chinese clothing industry (will be on 4-od)? it was very interesting, no child labour, working conditions were ok, long hours etc but the factories were clean and well equipped. he saw victoria secret underwear being made on the same production line as asda and m&s!

jenfraggle · 04/04/2012 14:30

From my experience of a wedding forum that I used to use, the quality really varies. Can you post a link to the dress and someone may recognise it?

daenerysstormborn · 04/04/2012 14:32

after reading that link, another point is you will have to pay import duty on anything brought from abroad.

MrsKittyFane · 04/04/2012 14:32

Nasty cheap fabric, bad cut and poor workmanship not to meantion dubious work ethics.

Think Primani

Original poster
maddening · 04/04/2012 14:34

www.weddingbridalgowns.co.uk/w-s-82397.html

This is THE dress, I LOVE it - if anyone knows the original designer I'd go straight to them...

OP posts:
daenerysstormborn · 04/04/2012 14:34

"Nasty cheap fabric, bad cut and poor workmanship not to meantion dubious work ethics."

not always. i've worked in the textile industry for years, and have dealt with far east suppliers many times, some are very good employers, and the quality is fine.

MrsKittyFane · 04/04/2012 14:35

Find a local seamstress, show your design, get fitted, go and choose fabric or take picture to reputable dress shop.
But if you want a Primark equivalent for a wedding dress, go ahead!

MrsKittyFane · 04/04/2012 14:38

Your dress looks very simple to make. I would get one made with beautiful fabric.

jenfraggle · 04/04/2012 14:46

I've put the feelers out for you and will let you know when I hear anything

MrsKittyFane · 04/04/2012 14:51

look here!

jenfraggle · 04/04/2012 14:54

Designer

UK stockist

Mrsjay · 04/04/2012 14:57

not the same but dd got a prom dress from china it was half the price and Beautiful , be careful though the chinese are smaller than us and the sizes are a little cozy , dd is a size 8/10 and the dress was a tiny bit of a squeeze not by much though just around the bust , iyswim ,

hairytaleofnewyork · 04/04/2012 15:01

The Gok wan programme showed some harsh working conditions - living on site, same job with no variety for years on end (eg: ironer) and harsh targets.

Proudnscary · 04/04/2012 15:03

You can easily get that made up by a local dressmaker.

It's really gorgeous by the way - I can see why you love it.

McPopcornMouseNFries · 04/04/2012 15:20

It's beautiful!
At the very least, I'd request a sample of the fabric used before ordering?

daenerysstormborn · 04/04/2012 15:27

those horrified at the thought of buying direct from china, have you checked the labels on the clothes you are wearing?, i've just done mine, next cardigan - made in china, asda jeans - made in china. the majority of the uk clothing market comes from china.

that aside, maddening, a wedding dress is different, you'll want it perfect and stress free. if you can, buy in the uk so you can try it on.

WestYorkshirePudding · 04/04/2012 15:32

My sister saw her perfect wedding dress in a bridal shop for £800 then saw it online for £100. It was meant to be a copy of the original she'd seen but wasn't exactly the same so she got a local seamstress (?) to add a couple of features on the front and she had the perfect dress for £150 all in.

Probably not the most ethical purchase she'd ever made but then who's to say that the stuff you buy extortionately in Monsoon, etc. isn't made in the same conditions?

Go for it!

whackamole · 04/04/2012 15:33

I'm having my dress made by a local dress maker, she has a shop on eBay. I can't bring up the picture of the specific one you want but mine is a tea-length fifties style.

This is her shop, I went there the other day and she measured me, I have been there before to try on. I looked at places like LightintheBox and while the dresses were lovely, I wanted to be sure that the fabric was nice and that the style would suit, also you could pay a huge customs fee when it is delivered (quite apart from the ethical side of course!).

CountryMouse27 · 04/04/2012 16:59

I ordered my dress from China, had a lot of emails before I placed the order, they were really prompt in any alterations I wanted and they made the dress to my measurements.

I got a lot of dress for £200, I did pay duty on it but it wouldn't have been much.

Really good experience overall. Yes the material wasn't of the finest silk or lace but it looked nice. Its been in its bag now for 2 years in the back of the wardrobe. I didn't look at it as an investment, just a dress I would wear on my wedding day.

I feel pleased that I did as I dont feel under pressure to sell it on to recoup some cost like some friends and hopefully my mum can make it into a christening outfit.

emsyj · 04/04/2012 17:42

It's Beverlywood from Dolly Couture - I am the owner of the UK stockist! Grin

emsyj · 04/04/2012 17:43

Oh, just to be a stalker OP I checked your profile and see you're in Cheshire - I am on the Wirral and have a home-based studio where you can try on this dress.

valiumredhead · 04/04/2012 17:45

I know someone who has and they were delighted with it.

whackamole · 04/04/2012 18:17

emsyj talk about coincidence!

The lady I have bought my dress from is on the Wirral too - obviously a good place for wedding dresses! Grin

emsyj · 04/04/2012 18:34

I know who you mean, whackamole! I think the 50s style dresses are becoming really popular now (which is good for me, obviously!) Grin