S8E8: Sustainable Custom Wedding Gowns on a Budget
Did you know you can get a custom, made-to-order wedding gown without breaking the bank?
Grace + Ivory is on a mission to make dresses affordable without compromising a bit of quality.
Guest: Tina Wong, Grace + Ivory
This week, we’re dishing about…
why is try-at-home a good option for some
why the wedding dress shopping experience is so emotionally charged
why is sustainability is important for Grace + Ivory and why it should it matter to couples
advice for people out there who are shopping for wedding dresses
... and more!
Meet Grace + Ivory
Grace + Ivory, founded by a once-frustrated bride, is built on the belief that kickass womxn deserve better bridal. We are the try-at-home destination for wedding dresses, and brides order gown samples to their door directly from our website. Brides can order a sample to their home to try, return, and then order their own custom made-to-measure wedding dress. By providing high-quality, customizable dresses at affordable, direct-to-consumer prices where every dress benefits women’s programs, we create an amazing and bride-driven bridal experience. We are inspired by, dedicated to, and benefiting modern women.
Tina Wong is the Founder and CEO at Grace + Ivory, a modern, curated try-at-home brand of customizable, made-to-measure wedding dresses.
After seven years working in foreign aid and business development for non-profits in DC, she took the leap to fulfill her passion for business done better and launched her social enterprise in 2017. She lived in China for four years, which is where she got to develop relationships with the talented women who would become the dressmakers for Grace + Ivory. Tina believes that social enterprise is the future of good business and is the way forward to address global development issues, so a portion of each dress purchased supports women’s programs around the world. Tina is a proud Chicago native (go Cubs!), dog lover, and Loyola Chicago alum who loves travel (she’s been to six continents!), hiking, wine, and finding ways to support other ambitious women in the Windy City.
Blazing a new bridal experience and updating an outdated business model within a very traditional industry. Try at home challenges some traditions a bit but I think it's a breath of fresh air given the reinvigorated pace of life where people want different options. Made-to-measure and made-to-order is more sustainable and a better fit (literally) for women of all shapes and sizes. Generally I'd love to share my experience and lessons learned.
Business Info…
What areas do you serve?
We're available nationwide via our try-at-home program and our showroom is located in Chicago.
How long have you been in business?
Since 2017
Why did you decide to start your own business?
My own dress shopping experience - this is from the website but I can talk more personally about it. "From the limited selection of nearby boutiques’ inventory for try-on, to gowns that cost three months‘ rent, to the sales associates hoping I’d make a champagne-hazed dress decision that would linger in family photo albums for generations to come within 25 minutes of trying it on, to the idea that my dress would take 7-12 MONTHS to arrive and I should still pad in tons of time (and money!) for some serious alterations. It was a flurry of blush-colored chaos and I felt overwhelmed and discouraged, As I started talking to my girlfriends and coworkers about it, it turned out they felt the same.”
What's the coolest thing about owning your own business?
Seeing my vision for the brand and business come to life. Truly "building" - block by block.
What challenges have you had to overcome?
Bootstrapping - so financing, finding my production team, building out something not a lot have done so it's been a shot in the dark at times. Overall insecurities for sure!
Daily Life…
What is daily life like in your household?
Working a lot but keeping a balance with cooking (I like to cook), going to the gym, and making space for mental wellness.
Are there any challenges or obstacles that you've had to overcome?
I moved back to the States full-time in 2020 and really keeping my business afloat and growing it while working through a big personal change (separation and then divorce - I don't know if I'll mention this specifically since this is a wedding podcast but FYI for you!) and refocusing my emotional wellness, etc. Getting on my feet again, healing personally, emotional growth, etc. This was such a big obstacle for me.
What advice would you offer to other business owners in a similar situation?
Keep the vision for the business and remember to make space for yourself personally for your healing.
Photo credit: Photos from the Harty
Mess Hall, Little Black Book, Perfekt Blend Band, On The Fly Tapsters, Rissel Beauty, Type A Design Studio, Photuggraphy, RLAH with Kimiko, At the Beep, Commonwealth Proper, Grace + Ivory, Boundless Travels, Ox & Pine
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