Yvonne Malik, a freelance designer of everything to do with funerals, has made some stunningly beautiful sample funeral gowns (colour photos can be seen at the Natural Death Centre) and could no doubt be commissioned to make a special gown for a family. In the following adapted extracts from a letter to the Centre, she explains how people can make a funeral gown for themselves. Bear in mind, however, that ready-made funeral gowns, as supplied by funeral directors, are not expensive, starting at £10 wholesale for the cheapest, and that includes the coffin frill.
Funeral gowns or robes are usually straight up and down, without waist or curve, backless, with sleeves separate from the gown and attached later with pins or hand stitching, thus enabling easier dressing.
Today's gowns are often still reminiscent of the baby clothes of a century ago, with a decorative bib or similar to a dressing gown, complete with cord.
There is no reason for this - or why you cannot make something yourself worth being seen dead in!
Why not also make a matching face cover, pillow and heading (for inside the coffin).
As the gown will never need to be washed, there are no constraints about shrinkage or colours running. Glue can also be used.
Gowns can be painted, drawn on in felt tip, pleated, appliqued; or can be a patchwork of various prints or have fabric flowers stuck on.
Thin fabrics need to be lined.
You can even add pockets if you wish. Jewellery can be added, made out of real flowers, leaves, shells, etc, on threads. There can be a flower headdress or a buttonhole. Dried flowers can be used in winter. But do not use any glass, plastic or metal (beads etc). If using artificial flowers, remove all wire and plastic supports.
The gown needs to be about 76" long, 28" wide. Allow 6" of shoulder flaps for tucking over and behind. Cut out neck and hem. A matching inner lining (frill) for the coffin will need to be 14' by 10".
Yvonne Malik, Sweet Briar Cottage, 52 Hornby Road, Wray, Near Lancaster LA2 8QN (tel 015242 21767).
This webpage forms part of the Global Ideas Bank (www.globalideasbank.org).
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