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Question:
Kate,
My mother in law is making all the dresses for the wedding, and I was curious to know if tulle is a sustainable option or if a sustainable alternative to tulle was available. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated, especially in regards to use of tulle in my veil, dress, and other wedding items.
Thank you for your time,
Alexa W.
Answer:
Hi Alexa,
You are so lucky that your mother in law is making dresses for you - I am sure they will be beautiful. The short answer to your questions is that it depends on what the tulle is made from. There are three types of tulle on the market (generally speaking): Nylon, Rayon, Silk. Nylon tulle is the cheapest, but it is NOT green as most of it is made overseas and it is petroleum-based. Rayon is slightly better than nylon, as it is made from a plant cellulose, but it undergoes extensive chemical processing that is bad for the environment. Silk is the best option, but it is not as stiff as nylon so how well it works depends on the drape of the gown. Peace silk would be the best as it is ethically sourced - harvested after the worms live out their natural lives - but I have not seen any peace silk tulle on the market yet. You may want to contact the designer Gwendolyn Gleason, as I know she sources all of her peace silks directly from India.
Given the above, I think the best bet may be to purchase gently used tulle on eBay or on Craigslist and reuse it. Recycling is always green, it will cost less, and it will allow you to buy exactly the tulle you need for the job.
Hope this helps!
Kate
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