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Eco Wedding Dresses: View Your Gown in Progress
"Hi Lori,
Here we have an example of an actual dress log for one of our custom-made eco wedding dresses from our previous season. Reprinted with happy permission from our client:7 April 2011
Good morning Tanya! Thanks for submitting your details. Not to worry; we'll get that toile out to you by early next week. One thing I was wondering was that on your dress page, it specifies Fair-trade organic cotton. Is that what you want your dress to be made of? We would usually use that for the lining but could use it for the outside too if that's what you'd like. You don't need to decide on a fabric until after your toile is fitted, so no worries. To answer your question: you're right in that the 'Loressa' sample you tried on had no bodice band; we've used different variations in seeing what looked best. There's no problem at all if you'd like a bodice band on yours; glad to do it. I personally think that the design looks more 'polished' with the bodice top, but some people prefer the uncluttered neckline. It does look good both ways. I've been going on the supposition that I would be sending you your toile and you would have someone fit it to you, but I'd be glad to do the fitting if you wanted to come here. It wouldn't cost you anything extra (except some drive-time), but I can understand if you'd rather not take the time to come here for an extra trip. Just let me know, though? Your dress page has been updated and you should be able to see the deposit button. Let me know if you have any trouble with it. If you'd rather not use the website, we can always sort the deposit out over the phone. Have a great Friday! Lori 8 April 2011
Hi Tanya, Let's start a new thread! Because now we start on your dress! Your deposit was received; many thanks. ;-) I can get started on your toile this weekend, but before that I need to finish updating the website with the new Collection. I never knew about web-design and coding until I started a business. Amazing, the things one learns... I'll give you a shout when your toile is ready. So exciting! Have a great weekend, Lori 8 April 2011 Good morning, Lori,
It’s official now! I’ll look forward to receiving my toile. I didn’t even realize I specified a fabric. Oops. It is the ivory silk and hemp fabric that I tried on that I would like for the outside.
Good luck with the website. I’m sure the new Collection will be ready to go in no time at all.
Thanks and have a great weekend! Tanya 11 April 2011
Hi Tanya, Your toile is finished and on its way to you in Grand Style: I sent it Priority Mail. ;-) The tracking number, should you want it, is: [deleted for privacy] and you would go to www.usps.com to track it. I remember that you hadn't wanted straps but I included them (unattached) just in case. Our handy-dandy youtube video which shows how to fit a toile is: http://www.youtube.com/watch? Let me know how it goes! Have a great week, Lori 22 April 11
Hi Tanya, We're still waiting for the toile to return, but I thought that you might enjoy some photos of the toile in the making: First we have the toile pieces:  We sewed them together part 1:  Then we finished the assembly and serged the seams. Here's the toile on your dress form (i.e., a dress form that's been adjusted to the measurements we have for you. We'll do some fine-tuning of the dress form when we have more specific numbers:  Voila! We await your fitted toile. Please do let us know if you have any questions at all. Here's that video again to help you do the fitting: How to fit a Conscious Elegance toile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jheZtYn3qk Good luck! We're looking forward to starting on your dress! Have a great weekend, Lori and the CE Team 25 April 11
Hi, Lori,
Hope you’re well. I fit my toile (with some great help) and put it in the mail today. I was a little nervous about the process, so I look forward to a fitting with you. Let me know if you have any questions about the markings or pins. Both the neckline and bottom of the skirt seems to be right.
I really look forward to the next step in this process! Thanks as always, Lori! Tanya 27 April 11
Hi Tanya, Your toile was received today ::cheers and applause::. We're just finishing up a client's gown and will be able to start on your dress first thing next week. As always, if you have any questions, just ask. ;-) Be well, Lori 1 May 11
Hi Tanya, I've been cutting the fabric for your dress and a question has occurred to me: did you want the godet in the skirt (in the photo attached, it's the side-pleat of extra material that's a different color than the rest of the skirt). Even if your dress is all in ivory, you could still have the extra bit in the skirt if you want it. The result would be a fuller skirt. I remember that we chatted about it but I'm not sure what your decision was. Let me know as soon as you can; I'll wait to start assembling your dress until I hear from you. Your dress log will be updated on Monday or Tuesday, depending on how far things get. (I do remember that you wanted a bodice band; that's already been cut out and is ready to be part of your dress). Hope you're having a great weekend, Lori 2 May 11 Hi Lori,
Thanks for checking in. No, I don’t think I want to the godet in the skirt. I’ll opt for more simple lines.
Thanks! I’ll look forward to an update on the dress log. Tanya 2 May 11
Hi Tanya, Here's an update on your dress! ::fanfare:: When we received your toile, we needed to do a few things to it first before it could be used as your dress pattern. Here is the toile:  Remember those safety pins in the seams that you put in? We make marks where the pins go:  And so when we take pins out, the marks show us where the new seam should be:  We took apart all of the pieces:  and laid them on the actual hempsilk fabric:  Here is your bodice top:  And here are pieces that we use for the pattern for the lining. It's a simple lining that will be easy to fit to your measurements, but it's slimmer so that it won't bulk out your skirt.  Here are the lining pieces awaiting assembly:  Next update: the dress starts to come together! Look for the update later this week... Be well, Lori and the CE Team 6 May 11
Hi Tanya, We have achieved pictorial evidence! There's so much to show you! The pieces were sewn together, into skirts and bodices. Here we have the lining and the shell:  Once the basic construction was completed, the pieces were fit to the dress form that was adjusted to your measurements:  The seams were sewn and finished (serged) and the seams were pressed (sorry that it's hard to see in this photo):  The bottoms and tops were now ready to be put together. Here is the lining:  And here is the shell (see the serged seams?):  There was more to do with the lining. We needed to take care of the hem. First was cutting and pressing (it's on the ironing board in the first photo), then the sewing:   The label was added (proudly stitched onto organic cotton) and the lining is now finished!   The hempsilk shell was deliberately not hemmed; we'll want to wait until your final fitting. That way you can wear the shoes you've chosen and we can be sure that the length will be perfect. We haven't forgotten your bodice top! It's pressed and pinned...  Next update, we'll put it all together. Stay tuned... Have a great weekend, Lori 9 May 11
Hi Tanya, Lots of progress on your dress over the weekend (we don't take days off unless we want to). Your dress just might be ready for your final fitting, depending upon how much time you'll have. But first, we'll show you what's been done and how we done it. You'll remember that we had completed the shell, the lining, and the bodice band. It was time to put them all together. How? Like a sandwich. (I will refrain from the obligatory OM NOM NOM references). First we have the shell - sooo pretty! Here's the front and back views:   So, here's a close-up of the shell bodice:  and we pin the bodice band over it:  Don't worry; the bodice band only looks really wide. We make it like this so you can adjust it your self. You'll see. After securing the bodice band, we add the organic cotton lining:  And sew it all together. It then looks like this, front and back:   Fabulous!! But there's still the matter of the lacing panel. And so we create ribbon out of strips of fabric cut from the same bolt as your dress, so everything matches perfectly. Behold the strips:  which are then ironed:  And then sewn. And then we add the rest. Here are all the components:  Ok, actually, those are the components to 4 and 1/2 sets of lacing panels. We're using these photos because we were so into the making that we forgot to take a photos of these steps. But the process is the same. The ribbon is looped onto the grounding fabric and attached firmly with two seams of extra-strong thread:  and then the casings are sewn over the loops. All made from unbleached organic cotton satin, which isn't shiny like hemp/silk satin but it's very strong:  And now your lacing panels are complete:  All that's left to do is put them into your dress. So first we pin the back seam in the right place, then pin the lacing panels in:   And now we have a question for you: how much time do you have for your final fitting? I judge that we have about 5 more hours of work left on the dress. If you were able to come for your fitting and wait that long (maybe go to lunch and a matinee?), you could take your dress home with you and save yourself the cost and wait of shipping. If you didn't want to wait that long, you could come for the fitting, let us do what we need to, then we would send your dress to you when it was finished. It's completely up to you. I'm really looking forward to seeing your dress on you! Be well, Lori and the CE Team 10 June 2011
Hi Tanya! It was wonderful to see you and to meet your mom today! As promised, here are the best photos from your final fitting:   You look completely FABULOUS! The dress fits perfectly and you look amazing in it. I can't wait to see the wedding photos! It's been an utter pleasure to create your gown and to keep you in the loop. I do hope that all of our future clients are just like you. ;-D Be well, Lori PS - the delivery date on your dress log had to be changed so that the page would update. It's a website quirk; apologies for any confusion! |
