What we do

Eco chic wedding gowns and bridalwear
Our eco chic wedding dresses are designed from beginning to end to benefit our earth as well as our brides. We create your green wedding dress to your measurements for a perfect fit.

Choose from many beautiful designs and fabrics to create a truly stunning eco-friendly wedding dress that's made just for you. We are also happy to provide eco fabrics by the metre for our DIY brides and dressmakers.

You'll enjoy realtime private online access to our workshop logs, which you can visit at any time to monitor your gown's progress. It's important to us that you are delighted with your gown and are included every step of the way.

Gorgeous green wedding dresses that don't cost the earth
Green brides needn't compromise their values to look stunning. With a Conscious Elegance eco wedding dress, you may let all of nature rejoice with you on your special day. And feel proud that you are a part of the solution.

Read more about Conscious Elegance

'New shop offers Conscious Elegance', VOICES of Central Pennsylvania, Community and Lifestyles, February 2011

'Wedding Dress Designs for Dancing – The Detachable Underskirt', Dance Charter, April 2011

'A Green Bride's Dream Come True: Custom Gowns from Eco-Chic Materials', Green Bride Guide

'Conscious Elegance: Obsessively Green', The Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase, February 2011

'Sneak preview of the eco-mazing 2011 collection from Conscious Elegance', Offbeat Bride, March 2011

'Wedding Style with a Conscience', Off White Indie Weddings, January 2011

Ethical action

Ethical Policies: Who we are and what we're about
We started from a passion: to provide beautiful, well-made, eco-friendly wedding dresses and ethical bridal wear using only the kindest, most socially responsible methods available.

Unlike many high-street chains, we remain close to our sources and can personally monitor their actions. Our green wedding gowns are sewn completely in the USA by local artists. And everything we use is ethically-minded, from our naturally-dyed eco fabrics to our certified organic cotton thread to our reclaimed zips.

We believe that we can be successful in the eco wedding business while acting honestly and giving truly exceptional service. We are a small, family-owned company and we will remain so.

Respect for our resources
We use only 100% Control Union World Group certified organic cottons, certified Fair Trade Fabrics and pesticide-free silk and hemp blends in our dressmaking. Even our garment labels are sewn on certified organic cotton and our buttons are carved from sustainable nutshells, the sale of which supports rain forest preservation.

Our suppliers are also pledged to responsible practice. No underage children are employed by any of our fabric or notion sources. And our dress prices reflect a fair living wage.

Find out more about our ethical policies

Awards & Recommendations

• Conscious Elegance has earned the ‘Green America’ seal of approval for our eco wedding dresses. Green America is a non-profit national advocacy group that vets green businesses with a careful selection process.
• We have been spotlighted recently by ShoestringVenture.com, which highlights small businesses and tells their story with the hope of inspiring other entrepreneurs:
• We are also thrilled to have won the Environmental Agency/North Tyneside Council Business of the Year Award. We even beat Nissan!

A few ways we're trying to make a difference

Recycling

We use 100% post-consumer recycled materials in our office paper; our shipping materials are recycled (all but the wrapping tissue, which is preservation grade and sustainably sourced) and all are fully biodegradable. We recycle all fabric scraps into swatches, elastic casings, ribbon and fabric flowers. We are presently investigating the use of organically grown reed boning for our bodices.

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Reducing carbon footprint

We source as locally as possible for our materials and use surface-postage whenever feasible. When we relocated to the US, we used surface transit for shipment, rather than air. We were sorry for the delay in re-establishing our studio but we knew our clients would approve.  We choose not to use personal cars but instead rely on bicycles, footwork and public transit for our transportation, including to and from client fittings.

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Using organic products

All of our materials are sourced to be eco-friendly. Our cotton linings, lacing panel, lace trims and even our dress labels are certified organic cotton. Our hemp blends and our silks and satins are produced without pesticides or chemicals.

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Using cruelty-free products

We offer a variety of eco-friendly fabric options, including vegan-friendly fabrics and vegetarian ‘peace’ silk that does no harm to the silkworms that create it.

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Supporting fair trade

We use Certified Organic Fair Trade Cotton fabrics in our garments and Fair-Trade note cards and stationery for our written correspondence. Our buttons are hand-carved from fairly-traded tagua nut, the use of which generates profits that allow craftsmen to support themselves and their families without resorting to harmful farming practices. This protects the South American rainforest, which in turn helps to preserve the ozone layer.

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Supporting / working with a charity

We have a charity policy of donating 3% of our annual gross income to humanitarian and environmentally-supportive charities. Please see our website under our ‘About Us’ page under Our ethical charity and contribution policy. 

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Vegetarian / vegan

See cruelty-free above.

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Other things we do

We offer a special service for our customers: we hand-create eco-friendly Christening Gowns/Naming Ceremony garments out of their own gowns for their future little ones at no extra charge. The garments are machine or hand washable and easy to care for and can be re-used for each child. It’s a wonderful and sentimental way to recycle! 

Conscious Elegance - Reviews

"Dear Lori,
Firstly the dress was fab - the style, colour, fabric, the service and personal touch - were all that I wanted. My parents can't sing your praises highly enough, and my father thinks it's a loss to this country that you've moved back to the US.
Overall everything was marvellous. I was thrilled that you made my dress, it was beautiful, and I only hope I get to wear it again (Gareth has vetoed me wearing it to the supermarket!). You made the whole process relaxed and enjoyable, and listened to me in ways I hadn't experienced when dress shopping with friends in bridal boutiques for their gowns. After meeting you I realised I didn't need to even go to a 'traditional' bridal shop (much to my bridesmaid's disappointment) - and it was all the better for your green credentials. I would highly recommend you to anybody - only problem is I don't know anybody who's getting married - in the UK or USA!"
Isabel F.

"Dear Lori,
Very happy at the thought of using your company, I did want as much of my wedding fund to go into people and companies that I believe in, so yours fits perfectly. The fabric has been a joy, again I am so grateful to you for supplying it. I know I've said it a lot, it's not out of a desire to gush but it's just so much nicer than the other organic cottons I was able to get samples of, so I am so happy that I found it! Still so pleased with the fabric [after the wedding], it was so comfy to wear all day long and I can't wait to start wearing it all the time now!
Thanks again so much for the fabric but also the enthusiasm. It's been lovely meeting so many great professionals through organising the wedding, have really loved it!"
Siobhán P

"Hi Lori!
I really was so impressed with your service from the outset. You are helpful and flexible, and understanding. Nothing was too much trouble for you. It was exactly what was needed during that sometimes-stressful time!"
Sarah

Working with Lori was great. Originally I was only planning on having just a plain party dress, but Lori graciously offered to share some of her ideas with me and once we got talking we ended up with a beautiful design!
Lori was extremely accommodating and was happy to get feedback throughout the process. I was also in the middle of moving house and had little time to check my dress log so she kindly sent me updates and links in my e-mail! The final product was perfectly unique to me and the fit was superb. Lori is a dressmaking genius. Everyone loved the dress on my wedding day and I can't say enough about how comfortable it was!
Normally I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal and I didn't want to take the dress off at the end of the day (I nearly slept in it but my new husband protested!). I would definitely recommend Lori to anyone wanting something other than a traditional white, strapless, a-line gown. It's your wedding day, stand out a little!"
Carrie B.

"I can't quite believe how amazing the dress looks. It's a complete stunner, it's absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait to wear it.
Thank you again Lori. You have been so helpful and lovely and I think the least stressful part of arranging the whole wedding. I really appreciated you making time for me, it has made me feel really special. I can't wait to get the dress, show off and let everyone know how wonderful you've been. I'm sure I'll be back for more in the future!"
Anz

See reviews from Conscious Elegance's Etsy page

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