The Hidden Hands Behind Your Wedding Dress
When you look at your wedding dress, do you ever think about the hands that made it?
My book, RELOVABLE touches on how disconnected the wearer of a wedding dress can be from its maker. Behind every beautiful gown are skilled artisans, seamstresses, and craftspeople who pour their expertise into creating something magical for your special day.
This is why I’m always telling people about the Fashion & Textile Children's Trust (FTCT), the only organisation dedicated to supporting the children of people who work in the British fashion and textiles, including makers across the bridal industry. 10% of the cover price of my book "Relovable" has been donated to this vital charity.
The FTCT helps bridalwear families when they find themselves facing financial hardship by providing grants to meet their children's basic needs. The support the FTCT gives is woven into the very fabric of the industry. Founded in 1853 by a group of textile workers, one of the charity's earliest supporters was novelist Charles Dickens.
Dickens, who was the Chairman of Appeal of the FTCT in 1856, famously addressed social issues through his fiction. Less widely known is that he himself experienced extreme poverty as a child. Despite his own financial challenges, Dickens used his influence as a world-famous writer and speaker to boldly campaign for charities like the FTCT, seeking to alleviate poverty and improve the lives particularly of women and children.
Today, the relevance of FTCT could not be greater. Following the turmoil of the pandemic and increased pressure on households through the cost of living, financial hardship still affects so many families across the UK, including those that work in the bridal sector.
When you choose to repurpose, upcycle, or give your wedding dress a second life instead of discarding it, you're making a choice that supports sustainable practices in the fashion industry. You're valuing the work that went into creating your dress and ensuring it continues to bring joy rather than ending up in landfill.
By giving parents grants to buy children's items like clothes, school uniforms, bedroom furniture or study equipment, the FTCT gives families in the British fashion and textile industry a place to turn during challenging times, while making sure children have everything they need to thrive.
Your wedding dress represents not just your special day, but the skilled hands and caring hearts of those who made it possible.
Find out more about the work of the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust (FTCT) and whether you may be eligible for a grant.
Ready to explore what's possible for your dress? Access my FREE guide to “Beyond the Big Day” HERE which is a video and PDF giving you an overview of where to start and what to do with your old dress - the first steps toward giving your gown the second life it deserves. If you’re a bride-to-be, then download my FREE "Peaceful Dress Journey" guide HERE to discover answers to the most commonly asked questions from all my brides. After your wedding, I’ll then send you some ideas for what to do with your old dress.
You’ll find more about the FTCT and the bridal world in my book which you can buy HERE. It makes a perfect gift for a bride-to-be, or for anyone who loves sewing, upcycling and wedding dresses.
