I am exhibiting at a Wedding Fair on Sunday & 2 weeks ago DD challenged me to make a wedding dress

[KatyMac]

& I am bloody knackered but the skirt is nearly hemmed!

I have the rest of today, tomorrow later afternoon evening and Saturday evening to finish it

Stupid idea anyway!

I think super ethical is probably a better dexcription for my potential customers than 'wanky'

Tes break over back to work

Fashion show next Thursday & I need 8 outfits plus options

"Wanky" was my term for the do gooders that still want the unique full out stunning dress rather than the "super ethical" that would just wear 2nd hand

Vintage is another angle, recycled made into vintage styles because true vintage that fits etc is hard to come by?

I think there's a market there - women who will spend silly money on a tailored well-fitting wedding dress, and then feel like they have to justify it by saying something about it being upcycled vintage or consciously coupled with ethical greenism or climate friendly and carbon neutral.

Consciously couple your wedding dress with the spirit of Gaia

I know Random I was teasing!

I love that Autumn Crow, did you think it up or is it already in use

I do tend to make more vintage styles - I guess I am drawn to them

It's all mine, @KatyMac - well, it's all yours now

It's beautiful. I can see a bride with red curly hair wearing that, in the middle of a forest etc. As well as more normal venues. 😀

Timing is right for a venture of this kind. The opening up of wedding venues to alternative places, the sustainability factor, there is a market for it.

I love it!! I will store it until I sort my life out - that you xxx

Let me play for a bit I have a few alternative dresses on the cards right now

I’m a bit wanky (😂) and did loads of my wedding browsing and buying on Etsy. I’m pretty sure you don’t have to shoot to the US either. I usually change my search setting for shop location to UK or EU so I know I’ll get things in a timely manner.

So you guys think wedding might be better than just vintage/remaking?

And I should grit my teeth and do Etsy?

Gulp

Ok so I am old but have red hair, I can model being an older fully recycled bride 😂

I totally think there is a market for it, sustainable, local, bespoke, couture, vintage twist.

And prices?

I had 2 enquiries one for that dress and one for similar in a larger size but both were a bit shocked at a £3-400 price range And to be fair there isn't much profit in that £500 would be more realistic

Follow the money (weddings) I would say. Wedding dresses, wedding guest outfits, 'going away' collections of bespoke and upcycled vintage dresses / two pieces.

I have another 3 on the go - so let's see if you like those before we jump to any conclusions

I would research dress styles/patterns at least one per decade and work out which are the fastest/easiest to produce. So try and have a "budget" model and then look at a "delux" model too.

I would also look at which ones can be made more cheaply because you've taken short cuts, don't need lining etc which ones that don't need much fabric versus which ones do.

I am going to be biased But I think there is big 30s to 60s resurgence so start there, but that may be because I mix in dancing circles - Lindy Hop & Jive

The problem is the material - my dsigns are sort of organic from the peice of material I have

So I have a table cloth right now that is looking at being a late20/30's dress

And a wedding dress I have will be a cosplay/medeavil (sp) dress & a dress I made years ago is getting a real 'upcycle' treatment

Hmm let me think

But you need some bread and butter stuff to bring in money too...

Otherwise you will have to make dresses up in larger sizes say an 18 then take them for whoever buys them...

But I won't always have the material to make them

Large amounts of pre-used material is had to come by white is easier than ivory because of sheeting

Unless I buy new?

I can keep large pieces of material in case someone wants them but an 18 is reasonably small in wedding dress terms

So much thinking

Currently I'm doing a fashion show next week - they asked me and I said yes, thinking 2 or 3 models

Then I find out I have 8 well if I add bits og my clothing and DD's I can manage that

Then they said everything had to be offered for sale after

So I am now making each of my skirts/tops/jackets into an entire outfit

And then they did bring alternates in case the model sizes were wrong - face/palm!!!

Let's get this crises over with and think through more wedding ideas

Wow, that is an amazing dress, you are very talented.

Thanks Random, yes you're right

Thanks for the compliments Goodie and Sarcelle (and anyone else if I have missed them)

I think I have 4 main strands now

1. children's clothes
2. adult clothes
3. embellished jackets
4. gowns

I wonder if after the fashion show I should cut back on the adult clothes? They get the least attention I think

I'm doing better than I thought - I have 2 dresses to finish and 2 tops to make

Maybe a jacket to embellish and possibly a cloak!

Then I'll start the next wedding dress!

How far you've come since the days of the Malevolent Swan 🙂

The Swan is still in use - picture is quite old tho'