Anne was asked to design something for three fashion shows within the Croydon EcoExpo in 2008, supported by Croydon Council, with the theme of Waste Not, Wear It. The 100% silk Anne used to make the original outfit is from the Eri moth, one of the lesser-known Indian wild silk moths. The cocoon is a strange shape so the silk threads can only be taken from it after the moth has left and the threads are broken. So for commercial production companies it is no good because they need continuous silk threads that can be reeled ready for preparation for weaving.
So Eri silk cocoons would be left to rot on the forest floors and the silk inside them wasted unless the cocoons are collected and the broken silk strands are spun into a thread to then be woven into lengths of fabric. This creates a 100% silk fabric which has a soft almost cashmere or woollen texture which is very different from the traditional slub weave of the more commonly known Indian wild silk: Dupion.
The bridal outfit is designed as separate garments which can be worn again after the wedding, so they are not wasted by being worn just once. The stole attached as a train to the back of the dress (see pictures above) can be worn as a wrap for the evening party, and the coat worn over the dress makes a going away outfit. After the wedding the garments can be worn separately as a dress, a coat, a tunic and a stole. The stole when clipped to the base of the V neck of the back of the dress, with arms holding the stole outstretched, symbolise the moths who produced the silk threads.
The original garments are part of Anne’s collection and can be viewed by appointment. All the garment designs can be made to order in a variety of materials, sourced from Anne’s trade suppliers of silks, laces and natural fibres.
A rough guide to the cost of making up each garment individually, without the cost of fabrics is detailed below. Enquiries are welcome for more information.
- Part lined (bodice only), floor length dress £700
- knee length dress £550
- Fully lined, floor length dress from £1,000
- Long line, lined jacket (short coat) from £900
- Unlined tunic from £300
- Very long Stole from £150 Plus the cost of materials