Mignonette Bridal

Bricolage Collection - Social Sustainability, Elopement-style

Building a better world, and a better way of making and selling wedding gowns, is at the heart of everything we believe, make, and do. We call this approach “social sustainability”, and it means that we think about every aspect of a wedding as a chance to change the world. In a time when taking care of each other is more important than ever, we have to take a closer look at how our clothing is made and who is literally suffering for fashion.

Mignonette Reuse Studio is excited to debut our Bricolage Collection, a capsule edit of one-of-a-kind  dresses perfect for a quick trip down the aisle, whether that aisle is your favorite local garden, a city street, or a beach location for two (+all your Zoom friends). 

Each dress is handmade with precious laces and silks from our archive, and come with a tag detailing when and where the elements were purchased. We’ve dug deep into our files and used up every scrap to save the planet and bring you sustainably chic and effortless pieces, made to style your way. The Bricolage Collection is your chance to own an heirloom piece with modern flavor.  Take it and make it your own.

What does “Bricolage” mean?

Originally coined by French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, bricolage is the construction of work from a diverse range of things that happen to be on hand. For us that means a beautiful mélange of found materials and heritage techniques, some only utilized in couture workrooms, mixing together to make a gorgeous whole. We are excited to be part of your adventurous life!

This collection is ever-expanding,

so keep an eye out for new products!

Barbes Gown

“Luxury is possible to buy. Good taste is not.” - Diego Della Valle

Channel your inner Italian bombshell with this thin-strapped confection. This sheath dress is crafted from hand-pieced antique lace (click to see us buying it at La Marche Aux Puces in Paris!)alternating with 1960’s silk stretch georgette and lined with delicious silk satin. Tiny satin buttons accent the v back and disguise an invisible zipper. This dress will stretch slightly but is made to fit a US 4 or 6.

This dreamily-ladylike dress will look perfect with a pair of kitten heels, or glamorously playful with a Loeffler Randall mule.

$755

Brera gown

“Charm is a way of getting the answer 'Yes' without asking a clear question.”-Albert Camus

Live la dolce vita with our midi gown featuring light-as-air layers of Chantilly lace and silk crepe de chine. The bodice has an easy-to-style crew neck, fitted waist, and sexy sheer cutout back to counter the sweet details of puffed sleeves and tiny satin buttons, but don’t worry, we've got you covered with a concealed rear zipper. The tiered ruffled skirt provides just the right amount of swish and makes this dress perfect for a garden, beach, or rooftop wedding.

The best part? This dress can do double-duty for a summer formal event paired with a long tasseled necklace and flat sandals, or fabulous costume jewelry and a flirty pair of heels.

This dress will stretch slightly but is made to fit a US 4 or 6.

$975

solari dress

“I like lots of things. But there are three things I like most. Love, love and love.” - Anita Ekberg

This dress is made for flirting, with hand-pieced sequin floral lace scattering a fitted bodice with deep v neck and back, trailing over the hips and leading to a stretch crepe skirt in soft tones of ice white. Alluring organically-placed floral details outline the neckline and cap sleeve, and the invisible zipper and satin buttons keep everything in place to add a sweet touch to a sassy look. Perfect with a kitten heel or a pair of sky-high peep-toe pumps.

This dress will stretch slightly but is made to fit a US 6 or 8.

$600

FAQ’s –

What’s special about these pieces?

I’ve been collecting fabric for nearly 30 years, and as you can imagine I’ve amassed quite a stash from my travels. This collection is my chance to just let go creatively and make pieces that are one-of-a-kind and in the moment. Now more than ever, it is important to think about our impact on each other and the world, and the Bricolage Collection is part of my pledge to lead a company with social sustainability at its core.

Each piece in the Bricolage Collection is made entirely of fabric from the Mignonette archives and our travels around the world- you might have a dress with lace from Belgium, Korean silk from Chicago, and hand-tatted trim from Paris, or you might have lace I dumpster-dived from the last remaining lace mill in Rhode Island with a lining of stretch satin from Michigan. Each dress comes with a tag sharing the provenance of the piece and its individual elements, as well as the names of the seamstresses who lovingly crafted it.

Why are they so small?

Each piece in the Bricolage Collection is designed to use up our existing stock of a particular fabric. In many cases that means we have less than a yard of trim or lace to work with, so the resulting dress has to be small. We are adding to the collection every day, and as I get farther into my stash (think a basement of meticulously-stored fabric scraps, and then double that) I find more and more fabric that can be used to make different sizes. I myself am not a size 6, and I want to cater to everyone who wants a fabulous piece, so don’t worry, more size selection is on the way! Why not sign up for our mailing list or follow us on Instagram to be alerted when new pieces drop? 

What’s your return policy?

The Bricolage pieces are one-of-a-kind and often made with delicate, vintage fabrics, so we cannot accept returns. We advise you to choose carefully and reach out to us if you have questions about a particular piece or want to see more pictures.  We are happy to make recommendations for tailors in your area who are versed in working with fine fabrics so you can get your perfect fit.

About Mignonette

Founded in 2002 as a RTW brand, Mignonette has expanded into an internationally-regarded bridal brand, and is now excited to share founder Kpoene’ Kofi-Nicklin’s eye for curated home pieces and creatively sustainable clothing with you! All of Mignonette’s  projects, from Mignonette Bridal to Mignonette Reutiliser to Bricolage and our homewares edit Good Manor – are created with a love of unexpected styling, heritage techniques, and the feeling of joy you get when you find that one special piece, and are dedicated to the woman who wants to live life beautifully.