Something Borrowed
Something Borrowed is a bespoke collection of bridal wear which incorporates found and passed down elements to form a unique garment that can be used for generations— whether that be the next generation of bridal wear or an alteration to create a new life for the garment. Inspired by centuries old wedding traditions, I wanted to build these dresses upon a story or deeper meaning that can be told through the craftsmanship of each dress:
The first displays the elegance of the female figure with hand-woven fabric of rayon and embroidery thread upon the bodice and dyed silk organza as decorative pieces.
The second has been crafted to enhance the shining beauty of the wearer through the movement and texture of beading upon the bodice. Giving new life to a found tablecloth, each bead was thoughtfully hand embroidered and sewn to a four layer ball gown skirt.
In efforts to leave as little waste fabric as possible, the third dress uses the remaining table cloth fabric and has additional colorful embroidery upon the dress for a bride who wants a simpler silhouette.
The work I’ve produced largely expands on the influence of designers Christy Dawn, Anita Dongre, and companies Reformation and Pure Magnolia. I was motivated by their sustainability efforts and mindful connections to traditional and simple ways of living— prioritizing quality and longevity in their products and giving back to the earth whence the materials came. The sustainability efforts which I incorporated into my garments include thrifting old items to give them new life.
I further researched popular trends from previous decades as well as current bridal trends to understand the task I was taking on. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and an old sixpence in her shoe” is an old saying and tradition that originated from English folklore. Each item in the rhyme is meant to represent a wish or good fortune for the bride and a sixpence represents financial prosperity for the newly-weds. My research also strived to understand the history of color and dress silhouettes. Historically wedding dresses were colorful garments and wearing white did not become the normal thing until Queen Victoria wore white for her wedding in 1840. For this reason, I felt compelled to include hits of color into my collection. The fit and flare, fitted sheath, and ball gown silhouettes all have a rich and timeless history, celebrating the female figure, accentuating curves and natural forms, and being a symbol of royalty and nobility.
The dresses I have on display are the visual element to my concept— a product of working one-on-one and collaborating with those close to me. As you walk around and visually explore each piece, I encourage you to ponder the hands behind each seam and stitch, each bead and thread that was placed with profound intention.
Planning
Research
Lookbook
