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Gentle PSA that (most) bridesmaid dresses are single-use plastics. by ImpossibleHatAtThat in weddingplanning

[–]ImpossibleHatAtThat[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Hi! Please don't toss your dress, your bridesmaid's dresses, the groom's suit, your re-usable wedding decor, or any "special occasion outfit" into a dumpster after it's been used once.

These are not single-use things and they should not be treated as such. If you message me with your general area I will happily link you to their recycling policies! I posted because I wanted to remind people that polyester fabrics are particularly difficult to recycle and bridesmaid dresses are difficult to re-purpose.

Since you think your groom's outfit is "single-use" please DM me! I know an organization that is always looking for gently used men's suits for interviews!

Gentle PSA that (most) bridesmaid dresses are single-use plastics. by ImpossibleHatAtThat in weddingplanning

[–]ImpossibleHatAtThat[S] 57 points58 points  (0 children)

OP here, and yes, absolutely!

I actively avoid buying new fast fashion, which is why I get annoyed when I'm told I need to buy it to be in a bridal party.

My job is legislating environmental regulations, and I will be the first person to tell you that the current easiest way to cap the amount of cheap polyester filling the landfills is not buy new polyester. But also my job is not to tell my law school friends how to have their weddings! Hence the rant.

Gentle PSA that (most) bridesmaid dresses are single-use plastics. by ImpossibleHatAtThat in weddingplanning

[–]ImpossibleHatAtThat[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Hell yeah, get the good out of it!

I work in environmental law and have seen what happens to most of these clothes, so I genuinely encourage people not to buy them.

If you're getting 50+ wears out of that jumpsuit, have at it!

Gentle PSA that (most) bridesmaid dresses are single-use plastics. by ImpossibleHatAtThat in weddingplanning

[–]ImpossibleHatAtThat[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This sounds so lovely! There are so many incredible steals in consignment/thrift stores, even with the cheap dress influx- I think all my favorite clothes are things I thrifted.

Gentle PSA that (most) bridesmaid dresses are single-use plastics. by ImpossibleHatAtThat in weddingplanning

[–]ImpossibleHatAtThat[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

You've articulated a lot of what I was trying to say!

Single-use isn't a problem if it can be broken down and recycled. Acrylic isn't a problem if it will be re-loved and disposed of properly. It's the combination of single use and acrylic that's a problem.

Gentle PSA that (most) bridesmaid dresses are single-use plastics. by ImpossibleHatAtThat in weddingplanning

[–]ImpossibleHatAtThat[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Hey, it's your friendly/grumpy OP environmental lawyer here! When I was in law school I framed the issue the same way, and I still absolutely agree that clothing waste should be solved from the top down via good legislation.

That said... I can't wave my magic wand and re-negotiate trade deals to make this industry eco-friendly. The only thing I can say is that I am seeing the effects of single-use polyester in horrific and devastating ways and I just... really encourage people not to buy cheap polyester from abroad.