Would you do it if it created jobs?
That wedding dress I have dreamt about since I was a little girl, holds a very special place in my heart. It embodied my likes and dislikes.
A wedding dress shields and cocoons the bride once a girl, now a woman, as she blossoms into beauty personified. There is also a lot of effort that goes into choosing its style, and then the effort to find the correct size that fits perfectly. In the old days, wedding dresses were passed on from generation to generation. For a woman, her wedding embodies a very happy day with many friends and loved ones. Memories she will treasure for the rest of her life.
The truth is, most of the value found in our wedding dresses, will only held in those happy memories.
Many brides try to sell their dresses second hand, but may not succeed. Most preloved wedding dresses purchased are designer labels. These are just a small sliver of preloved wedding dresses in the market. Other brides store their beloved wedding dresses deep in cupboards out of sentimental value. By the time they discovered, they probably won’t be worn again. So how do you and I share the joy we found in our precious preloved wedding dress?
Above: The first of our Bridal Separates Range: Pretty Pieces. We upcycled the tulle skirt from the Architects Dress.
That is where I come in.
As the designer at La Lesetsa, Jessica Lesetsa, I upcycle preloved wedding dresses to bring to life new designs. Upcycling is more than recycling. The word Upcycle [verb] is to reuse (discarded objects or materials) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original. Essentially giving something a new life.
At La Lesetsa I believe we are creating value by giving brides more options to what the sustainable wedding dress could look like. La Lesetsa works as an atelier or studio. This means each dress is handmade. The hands of our artisans spend hundreds of hours honing the art of creating designer quality pieces that the next generation of brides can enjoy.
We do not only create value in the products that we make but we also bring value to the lives of the women whose hands work diligently in our studio.
La Lesetsa pieces are ethically made. This means we work in a safe and secure work environment where our employees are paid a fair and proper wage (above the minimum wage) for their many hours of work. We wish to grow in this area as the business becomes more established. I am working towards employing a seamstress full time, with benefits. In the meanwhile, I am currently working on starting an upskilling focus group in our local community teaching embroidery to create part-time employment.
“Elegance is when the inside is as beautiful as the outside.”
By Coco Chanel.
ABOVE: Behind the scenes; upcycling the Architect’s Dress into one of our Pretty Pieces.
As Zero Waste week comes to a close, I am thankful for the opportunity to share how La Lesetsa Studio is making a difference in the world. Through upcycling, we are bringing added value to old frocks for new brides.
So, would you consider donating your wedding dress to create jobs? For every 10 wedding dresses donated, we will donate one of our designer pieces to a bride in need. Our Studio is based in Villieria, Pretoria.
To donate a dress please contact us via the form below or email Jess at lalesetsa@gmail.com.
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