Eco-Couture green gowns are white-hot!

Made with exquisite workmanship and replete with subtle details, The Cotton Bride is a couture bridal collection for the lifestyles, interests and priorities of a new age. A luxurious blend of simplicity and sophistication, each gown in the collection is made from natural fabrics and designed to reflect a romantic and youthful spirit of grace, comfort and beauty. The purity, airiness and ease of the fabrics used in the collection are chosen for a modern aesthetic that is cool, light and relaxed.

I had the pleasure to speak with the designer Chris Kole, about his designs and why this type of collection is so important.

Chris, I know you’re swamped so I really appreciate you taking time to speak with me about your collection. Can you tell me when a bride is looking for an environmentally friendly gown, what are they really looking for?

The type of brides that come to us place a large importance on the fabric used in our gowns. Natural fabrics are very important to our brides and most order their gowns in the cotton and linen fabrics we use in the collection. In rare cases, some brides ask us to use silk instead but in these cases, it is usually because the bride has met with some resistance to using a non-traditional fabric from her mother, grandmother or other close family member.

We have also noticed a strong trend towards delicate laces and vintage looks. There is also seen an increase in the number of brides asking for shorter bridal dresses - be it cocktail length or T-length. In these cases, the brides are usually destination brides planning weddings in an outdoor setting.

I know being Eco-friendly is hot right now, are you seeing a spike in your business because of the trend or is it year round?

We have a large spike in the first three months of the year, and that could be because of holiday engagements. Another interesting fact is that we find that Tuesdays are consistently the day we receive the most amount of visitors to our website.

What other ways can a bride be more 'environmentally friendly’?

Nowadays, a bride who is interested in being environmentally friendly has many options available to her at every step of the bridal planning process. From organic paper invitations to eco-friendly honeymoon destinations, all a bride needs to do is to do a search on the internet, or look to your site and countless options and ideas will come up.

If a bride wanted a dress in your collection, how long does it take to create a dress and what are your price ranges?

Typically, we ask for a minimum lead-time of 8 - 12 weeks. However, as all our dresses are hand-sewn right here in our own work studios in New York, we have a great deal of control over production; if a bride needs her gown sooner, we can usually accommodate her request. Prices for our gowns range from about $1500 - $4500 with most falling between $2K - $3K.

Thanks Chris for your great information I’m sure my brides really appreciate it.

If you have any questions about Chris Kole’s designs take a look at his bridal collection. Chris also has a ready-to-wear and custom Evening & Special Occasion dresses. Finally, know that his client list is a veritable who’s who of American Society and includes individuals as diverse as Secretary of State-Hillary Clinton, legendary jazz singer Nancy Wilson, celebrity actress Ali Landry, TV personality Mary Hart, socialite Melania Knauss-Trump and Grammy award winner Jill Scott.

For more info: Crisada Inc.
39-13 23rd Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
T - (718) 729-9730
F - (718) 729-9740
www.chriskole.com
www.thecottonbride.com