Sustainable bridal fashion is more accessible than ever with the pre-owned wedding dress option. Let’s chat about why wearing secondhand wedding gowns is the latest budding bridal fashion trend.

Newly engaged and want to be someone who cuts down on their wedding waste? It doesn't have to be as tricky as it may seem. You might already be planning to make some sustainable choices for the big day – things like forgoing plastic wedding favors and opting for a family heirloom (something used!) as a bridal accessory or a decoration instead of a brand new item.

Mindful choices like these are all great to make your wedding more eco-friendly, not to mention the fact that integrating secondhand elements can give your wedding day a more personal and purposeful touch.

But it's time to take things a little further and look into the world of sustainable bridal fashion, as it's one of the first things you should look into if you're longing to create an eco-friendly wedding of your dreams.

Shopping for your wedding gown is a big deal, as this is likely to be one of the most significant dress purchases in your life. And having to deal with constraints like a budget and keeping up with all the new bridal trends and styles, do you really need to be adding "sustainable wedding dress" to your list of demands?

Sustainable bridal fashion in 2024

We're gonna flip the switch and say that sustainable wedding dresses are the whole package: they're fashionable, affordable, and environmentally-friendly to boot. Basically, they’re the latest bridal fashion trend. It’s called “Sustainable bridal fashion.'“

And, in 2024, it's more possible than ever to find your dream wedding gown that costs a fraction of the original retail price, all while giving new life to a beautiful garment that already exists so you’ll reduce your wedding waste.

So whether you're in the market for that perfect sustainable wedding dress or just want to learn more about sustainable bridal fashion in 2024, this post is for you.

The world of fast fashion

To start things off, let's do a little dive into the world of fast fashion to give the trend of sustainable bridal fashion more context. The Cliff Notes version, if you will.

From South Korea to South Jersey, you can find international retailers selling mass-produced clothing items that were crafted tens of thousands of miles away and with materials sourced from chemical factories in another part of the world.

Some of these items will be marked at a more affordable price point, others very cheap, and some even on the higher end. And the fact of the matter is, all of these stores go under the umbrella of fast fashion.

More people (consumers like you!) are realizing that this type of mass production is harmful to progress. It pollutes the environment where these garments are made – from Bangladesh to Turkey and beyond – and the makers can face harsh working conditions. Plus, the latest stats show that 80% of garment workers around the world are women.

And unfortunately, the wedding industry also plays a part in the world of fast fashion.

Here's some more quick fast fashion factoids:

• According to UNCTAD, fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world. On top of that:

We know that this is a big problem, but the best way to combat this world of fast fashion is to start small. As a bridal shop selling pre-owned designer wedding gowns and accssories, our solution here is simple: Don't create more, but cultivate and use what's already there.

Also known as the circular economy, this type of sustainable production means making the most of what's already been made as to not extract even more natural resources.

Sustainable fashion and it's place in the bridal industry

The term "sustainable fashion" was created as a reaction to this world of fast fashion that (no pun intended) seems to be moving pretty fast around the world. You can't talk about one and not the other. We wouldn't need to be so sustainable if we lived in a circular economy, but here we are.

And where to go from here, you're asking? When it comes to making your wedding more ethical and eco-friendly, the answer lies in purchasing a secondhand wedding dress and/or accessory.

Secondhand wedding dresses are sustainable wedding dresses. As we've learned, circular is sustainable. A secondhand wedding dress is also a recycled wedding dress, as its being reused. So, being a part of this trend of reusing a wedding gown by selling it on consignment or making a purchase of one means that you're hands-down a modern day, eco-friendly bride!

Eco-conscious bridal fashion in 2024

So folks, there's no better time than the present to make the most of all of the beautiful bridal wear that already exists. For designer wedding gowns that have been crafted with detail and care, it's really a shame if it only gets used once in a lifetime, right? This is why sustainable bridal fashion is so important.

At Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, we believe that the best fabric is the kind that's already been made and is out in the world. That being said, what does sustainable bridal fashion look like? For brides, that can mean finding your something used and having a vintage-inspired wedding, buying a pre-owned bridal gown or accessory, and even consigning your wedding dress once the big day is done.

Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal

More brides than ever in 2024 are choosing to pay it forward by offering their gowns to other brides to love and cherish on their big day, which means that it’s easier than ever to find a beautiful and sustainable wedding dress option that is uniquely you.

That’s where Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal shop comes in. We are currently offering a wide selection of over 300 pre-loved designer bridal gowns at our boutique, as well as beautiful accessories to go with your perfect gown.

When it comes to choosing a more sustainable dress option for your wedding, know that you'll still look gorgeous in a gown that has only been worn once before for less than 12 hours, and be a much-needed advocate for ethical bridal fashion along the way.