The Brides’ Project has been in operation since 2004, and has three very important purposes:
- Budget friendly – we provide a cost-conscious option for brides,
- Environmentally friendly – we promote the reuse and upcycling of bridal garments to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry; and,
- Socially conscious – we donate all our profits to support cancer charities in our local and global communities.
Here’s a great article written by Marco Oved and photographed by Steve Russell of the Toronto Star in Jul/14 that tells the story nicely. Read All About It!!
Mission
The Brides’ Project accepts donated wedding dresses from brides, salons and designers and has three very important purposes: to provide brides with dress and accessory options that are within her budget, to help brides reduce their carbon footprint with the reuse and upcycling of bridal garments and to support cancer charities in our local and global communities by donating all our profits. To date, we have raised well over $1.5 million, and hope to continue this great tradition! We have also saved thousands of dresses from landfill; providing multiple opportunities for re-use and up-cycling.
Vision
We have seen huge strides made in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer over the last few decades. We want to be a part of improving the lives of men, women and children by fighting the disease and helping to fund groups who support the victims and their families. While lofty, we want to be a part of finding a cure, and believe this is highly achievable. Secondly, we strongly encourage others to adopt a zero waste ideology in their garments purchases. We believe that each step towards that goal and reducing our individual carbon footprints will help protect the environment for next generations to come.
Values
We treat all our clients, donors and staff with dignity, respect, kindness, encouragement and compassion.
Founder
This project was founded by Helen Sweet in 2004. As Helen says, “This project is dedicated to the many survivors, and sadly to the ones I’ve lost to cancer. My first run-in with cancer was finding out on Christmas eve 1976 that my best friend Lisa had lost her leg to bone cancer. She lost her life to the disease at the tender age of 9. I also fondly remember my cousin Jean, and so many other family members and friends I’ve lost this way. At the same time, I’ve seen the benefits of research and treatment – offering greater quantity and quality of life to be shared with loved ones.” Her own experience in planning a budget-conscious wedding, and struggling with the typical excesses led to the idea that perhaps two great things can happen … a financially/environmentally and socially conscious way to buy and return a dress… and a way to make a lasting contribution to the community. And thus, the Brides’ Project was born!
Our Crew
The Brides’ Project is primarily run by the owner Helen and two staff Deborah and Noor. We also welcome volunteers and interns throughout the year. I think you’ll find that we’re a lot of fun, and just delighted to meet and help all the brides who come through our doors!
Our organization
We often get asked if we are a charity. We are a social enterprise. What’s the difference?
Social enterprises are social mission driven organizations which apply market-based strategies to achieve a social purpose. The movement includes both non-profits that use business models to pursue their mission and for-profits whose primary purposes are social. Their aim – to accomplish targets that are social and or environmental as well as financial – is often referred to as the triple bottom line. Many commercial businesses would consider themselves to have social objectives, but social enterprises are distinctive because their social or environmental purpose remains central to their operation”.
In simple terms, we have the same goal – social betterment – but achieve it in slightly different ways. Here’s another explanation: http://blog.insightglobaleducation.com/non-profits-vs-social-enterprises-whats-the-difference
At The Brides’ Project, we donate ALL our profits to support cancer charities, and this is the impetus that keeps us all volunteering to make it work. We all want to make a difference in the lives of family, friends and our communities. Learn more about our donations here.
Thanks so much for your support, and may your wedding day be the start of a lifetime together in happiness and health.
