The Sustainable Journey

Do you have your sustainable journey planned out in business? From the raw material to the product and how to offset your carbon if you want to justify the high emissions created?

I am going to demonstrate my journey, everything from the raw material, to the design process, and to show where brides can support this sustainable pilgrimage.

1. The fabrics

The raw materials are often one of the hardest to find.  It can be difficult to find the information you want, the origin and how they were made.  I do the research and hope that companies speak the truth and aren’t greenwashing.  I try to buy fabrics from UK companies where possible, although their journey before that, is sometimes unknown.  I try to check the origin and buy fabrics as close to the UK as possible to reduce my carbon footprint.  However, I deal with bespoke brides and sometimes finding the perfect fabric could be one that comes as far away as China.  If this is the case, I then try to lower my carbon footprint by offsetting carbon schemes, which I will talk about a bit later.

The range of fabrics I use are peace silk, organic silk, cottons and bamboo. 

Peace Silk

Peace silk is made for people who care about ethics and how the worms are treated.  The silk is spun in India under strict and social environmental standards.  The silkworm is not harmed, they live in trees where there is no use of fungicides or insecticide, and they are able to live their life to the stage of the butterfly.  Once the butterflies have left their cocoons, the cocoons are then processed again using un-harmful products and processes. It is a beautiful natural fibre and you can feel the luxury smoothness on your skin.  This is one of my favourite fabrics.

Organic Silk and Cotton

The silkworms live on a vast amount of Mulberry leaves, these leaves are not treated with any fungicides or insecticides or sprays, which leaves a positive impact on the size of the cocoon and the quality of the silk.  The worms will be harmed in production though unlike the Peace Silk.

Organic Cotton works in the same way as the silk, by not using harmful chemicals in the production.  It also helps protect climate change, saves precious water, enables farmers to have more control in the process.  I would recommend finding organic fabrics that have GOTS certified logo which will mean that the fabric has been manufactured in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

Organic is the only system which eliminates highly toxic substances from the environment and instead works holistically, for the long-term benefit of people and the planet.

2. The Collection and the Design Process.

With the world full of unwanted clothes, it occurred to me to de-develop, to create collections on paper supported by fabric swatches.  The idea is to lower the use of raw materials, make less, which will help to lower emissions.  This is a perfect method for my bespoke brides, I also have a small collection to show, often one dress that has different sleeve designs or different skirt layering so again I am not making loads and loads of dresses. 

To make the toile, (mock design) I make it in the chosen lining of the wedding dress so the fabric isn’t wasted and it can be used for the final gown.  The lining is usually made in organic cotton or bamboo fabric which has its benefits.  The fabric choice for the wedding dress is the bride’s choice, I offer a range of sustainable pieces, however if they aren’t sustainable I will discuss the offsetting schemes or ways to make a greener choice.  Many brides like the idea that they can wear their dress again and again, so the design is styled to be quite modern, and striking so that it can be made shorter to wear as a party dress, or changed into a jumpsuit.  Effortlessly re-using and re-cycling.

3. Bride Bunnies and Bouquet Ribbons.

All the off-cuts of wedding dresses are used and not wasted.  My studio is piling up with some scraps of fabrics as I don’t like to throw anything away, I do try to pass some on to my children’s school too for craft projects.  The left-over scraps are used to make mini dresses for my Bride Bunnies, a gift to my brides or flower girls if they purchase a dress from me and the dress is a replica of their dress, a lovely keepsake idea. 

The fabrics can also be cut into strips and used for the flower bouquets.

4. Mileage and Schemes to Offset Carbon Emissions.

I have worked with brides from Gloucester, Birmingham, London, Wiltshire to name a few and my seamstress is a couple of hours away from me.  So how do I feel about the mileage and emissions created.  I do try and work on styled shoots and collections that are local. One of my collections I used a model and photographer from the village that I live in, a florist from Oxford and a make-up artist from Haddenham.  I try to work with other small businesses that are local to me or the surrounding area to support the community, but also to keep my footprint as low as possible. 

So, for those extra miles or those extra emissions created by me or my brides, I have a few ideas to counteract them. I work with the woodland trust monthly, I also have teamed up with Thame Trees to help offset my carbon but also brides have the opportunity to donate too. This is a tree planting scheme in and around the area of Thame, Oxfordshire. Please contact me for more information info@jessicaturnerdesigns.com

Overall, producing less, re-using, recycling, de-developing, having environmentally products on offer and supporting sustainable schemes is something that we can all work towards, at home or in business.   

Credits:

Jessica Turner Designs

Bicycle Blooms Oxford

Rosehip and Wren

Ellen Sear Photography

Lucy Morley Photography

Matt Fox Photography

Hair and Make Up by Zoe