Eco Friendly Wedding: Cotton Wedding Dresses

Finding the right wedding dress can be daunting for everyone, but for vegan brides who don’t want to wear silk, the search can be even more frustrating. Look no further than these incredibly beautiful cotton wedding dresses that are no less elegant and luxurious than conventional dresses.

Designer Chris Kole launched his bridal line, The Cotton Bride, in the early nineties, well before the eco friendly trend. Instead, what originally drew him to cotton was the comfort factor. His gowns in organic cotton and linen are known for both comfort and understated elegance.

Chris Kole’s signature collection The Cotton Bride is custom made and produced entirely in Queens, New York. His lower priced line, VCD (shown), is produced in Hong Kong. Both lines are made using organic natural fibers.

Janay A. Handmade is a Kansas City-based label by designer Janay Andrews. Eco friendly sourcing and production is a core value of this brand: all dresses are sewn in-house, and they source organic or vintage fabrics for the dresses. Vegan brides can choose beautiful gowns in either organic cotton voile or organic cotton sateen. They even offer custom redesign of heirloom dresses! But what really impressed me was the bold, glamorous aesthetic of the line. I see this line as the perfect fit for a sophisticated bride who wants something as unique and stunning as herself.

This shirred fitted gown with lace trims and dramatic back was one of my favorites. Bonus: Organic cotton!

This dramatic low back is so beautiful.

Kendal Leonard is an eco-friendly designer who specializes in organic cotton dresses for the bride and bridesmaids. All of her gowns are handmade with love in Charleston, and even colored in-house using natural dyes, which means no harsh chemicals and endless customization possibilities.

We asked Kendal to pick her favorite dress, and she picked her very first style, a halter dress with an open back. She is inspired by flowers, which is reflected in the organic curve of her lines and the vibrant colors.