The Sustainable Bride: How A Wedding Dress Can Empower Oppressed Women and Children
Brides Do Good, is UK-based company that is redefining what it means to say “I do”
Lisa xx
through ethical wedding dresses.
Their story is inspiring and thought provoking about how we spend money on our wedding. There’s nothing wrong with buying an amazing wedding dress, but if you could do more with your money at the same time – would you?
This company provides an option to purchase a designer dress of your dreams whilst also making the difference in the lives of millions of young girls who are oppressed and desperately need it.
It may be UK based, but it’s not the only model around, and who knows – perhaps if we share their story enough we might inspire others to set up a model like this in Australia.
In the heart of every wedding celebration lies a story of love, hope, and dreams. But beyond the layers of tulle and lace, there’s an opportunity for couples to weave a deeper narrative—one that extends the joy and love of their special day to make a positive impact on society through sustainable and ethical practices. This is the ethos behind the pioneering initiative by Brides Do Good, a UK-based company that is redefining what it means to say “I do” through ethical wedding dresses.
The Facts
But let me start first with a fact. Any idea what the average wedding dress in Australia costs right now? Its about $2,300 plus another $500 to $1000 for alterations. It’s a pretty hefty price tag for something that is generally only worn once. I’m all for investing in and creating once in a life time experieces. And I understand and agree with the concept that some things are not about the money. Every couple deserves to experience those “wow” moments. But Brides Do Good demonstrate that we can still experience this, save a little money AND have a positive social impact.
Brides Do Good is not just another bridal boutique; it’s a movement that challenges us to rethink our choices and their ripple effects. Here’s the crux of it. Brides Do Good focusses on supporting a charity that empowers women and works to end child marriage. Here’s another fact. Did you know that every year there are approximately 12 million young girls who are forced into marriage before the age of 18. These girls are denied the chance of a future they choose, and trapped in a cycle that hinders their potential. Brides do good invites couples to stand in solidarity to protect the rights of girls everywhere, offering a brighter future for everyone.
What They Do
Brides Do Good believe that a wedding dress can represent more than just one love story. All of their dresses make a difference. One third of their profits go to charities that empower women and work to end child marriage. Their collection of ethical and sustainable bridal wear is donated by brides and brands. Everything you purchase from them is either preloved or pre-made, which means their product doesn’t introduce any new impact on the environment. They handpick their gowns and designers to offer a beautifully distinctive collection for the conscious bride with the desire to be different. They are also careful to work with brands that share our sustainable and ethical values. They are then able to offer selections to brides at up to 70% off RRP, and they never ever throw a dress away!
So far they have:
- supported 4.7 million days of schooling to empower young girls
- saved 87 lifetimes of water for people who need it
- Saved 3215 kgs of dress material that would otherwise be living in storage or sent to landfill
- Prevented 7 tonnes of C02 from entering our atmosphere
What an amazing thing to support with money you were going to spend anyway!
What Can I Do?
As Brides Do Good is a UK based company – it’s not very practical for us here in Australia. I contacted them to see if they were aware of any similar companies in Australia, and the answer was unfortunately no. Further research revealed that there are some different versions of this within Australia – not exactly the same model, but worth investigating, and I hope to write about these in a future article.
What I hope to inspire with this article, is the thought that where and how we spend our money, particularly weddings, can achieve our own dreams, as well as making a difference in the world. If this type of approach resonates with you – why not look for pre-loved wedding dresses and see if you can still achieve the wow factor you’re looking for, whilst also making a contribution to a more sustainable world?
Or perhaps there are other areas of your wedding that are worth considering with the same sustainable/positive social impact lens?
If you’ve already made some great choices, or perhaps you have some other great ideas I’d love to hear them! Let’s pool them all together and create resources to make it easier for others to do the same!
Head here to find out more about Eco Friendly weddings
You can find out more about Brides Do Good from the links below:
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