Not a nice day for a white wedding... now there’s a dress fabric shortage
MANY brides-to-be have had their plans for the big day disrupted by the pandemic.
But now women are facing further potential delays until they can tie the knot – as supply problems are making it harder for boutiques to source dresses and accessories.
Many fabrics and items such as veils come from East Asia and retailers said they were seeing weeks of extra delays, warning it is set to get worse for those getting married in the New Year.
Demand has outstripped supply in the wake of the pandemic, retailers said, while there are delays at ports and labour shortages.
Couples are also choosing to marry at short notice to minimise any disruption by potential Covid regulations, which has further added to demand, shops said.
One Warwickshire boutique owner said dresses could take anything from six to eight months to arrive, rather than four to six.
Lynette Turner, of Boho Bride in Stratford-upon-Avon, added: ‘We are seeing delays in accessories, fabrics, trims, lace. Things like veils and headpieces are all being delayed by weeks.
‘We’re also seeing some of our designers telling us that things could get a bit more serious next year, especially for the brides that are getting married early next year, with late deliveries.’
She told the BBC supply problems had been amplified by a rise in global demand for certain fabrics, while some accessory orders had been held up at UK ports. Di Hassall, a shoe designer from Mickleton, Gloucestershire, said many of hers are handmade in Portugal and it had been difficult to import them partly due to Brexit delays.