THE DESIGN PROCESS
Reimagine Redrape Reseam Redesign
Are you in love with your grandmother’s wedding dress but feel it doesn't fit your style? We understand the sentimental value of an heirloom dress and can help you reimagine it into a modern, one-of-a-kind piece you'll love wearing on your special day.
Our expert drapers, pattern makers, and sewists will work closely with you to understand your vision and transform your inherited gown into a stunning bespoke creation. Whether you want to add a bustier, create a new bodice, or move appliqués from one area to another, our skilled artisans will execute your vision with the utmost care and precision.
We pride ourselves on maintaining the integrity of the original dress while elevating it to reflect your unique personality and style. With meticulous attention to detail, we'll ensure that your gown is crafted to the highest quality standards and fits you perfectly.
At Maybelle, we believe in celebrating love and honoring the past while creating a future heirloom that you will cherish for a lifetime. So let us help you bring your dream wedding dress to life so that you can feel confident, beautiful, and radiant on your big day.
CONSULTATIONS
Our bespoke designer, Christine Carlson, will provide you with expert design opinions during the consultation. You can go ahead and arrange a complimentary 30-minute phone or virtual consultation with us.
We would be delighted to guide you through our Collection and Discovered Dresses, and we can even offer you a sneak peek at items that have yet to be uploaded to our website.
Additionally, if you possess an antique dress or veil, we would be thrilled to hear your ideas and view your inspiration tears to create a unique, personalized result.
Sketch & Proposal
We specialize in discovering your bridal style and creating a sketch and proposal to upcycle your wedding dress. We understand that designing your dress can be daunting, so we collaborate with you to ensure that your unique vision is brought to life.
The Design & Sketch fee is $249 and includes a custom sketch and fabric options. We exclusively use premium, eco-friendly materials and source the finest vintage laces and trims for your dress, which will become a cherished heirloom. As a result, the total cost of your custom-designed wedding dress may vary significantly depending on the fabric, style, and details chosen.
We will give you a total cost estimate before beginning the project.
Crafting Your Custom Wedding Dress
Your wedding dress will be hand-crafted by our expert team and finished in our Maplewood atelier. Once we agree on the proposal and receive your deposit, we will secure the materials and take your measurements to begin the process.
The timeline for completing your custom-designed wedding dress can vary between 3-6 months. The exact duration depends on the dress design's complexity, whether a muslin prototype needs to be created, and the time required for communication between us. Throughout the process, 2-4 fittings may be necessary before the final garment is completed. Depending on your preference, these fittings can be conducted in person or virtually.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
At our core, we are dedicated to the artistic aspect of fashion rather than the commercial. We strongly believe that no one should have to wear a planet-polluting, mass-produced dress from across the world for one of life's most sacred events.
Vintage
All our pieces start with an existing garment. We source the most beautiful dresses that are often unwearable due to stains, damage and their tiny size. We restore them, deconstruct and then re-make them.
Deadstock
Deadstock materials are pre-existing fabrics from production runs that would otherwise be discarded. We choose high-end silks and natural fabrics that are bio-degradable and unlike synthetics they do not harm the planet.
Labor
We work with local expert craftspeople, drapers, sewers, and pattern makers. Utilizing these highly-skilled professionals supports the heritage dressmaking industry.
Packaging
We buy only compostable garment bags for shopping and packaging. Our shipping boxes are 100% recycled cardboard.
Recycling
When we work with a vintage piece we save all the scraps, they can be used to customize a veil or wrap the bride’s bouquet. Any excess lining scraps we donate to Fabscrap.
Cleaning
We’ve eliminated harsh chemicals and use only non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning detergents in our restoration of each delicate piece.