Traditionally, deceased people were buried in formal attire, often a suit. Today, these garments are made to be simple, yet elegant. They are usually made of soft materials that can be easily adjusted with drawstrings or slits. In addition, they are designed to be easy for a funeral director to put on the deceased.
There are many non-profit organizations that offer burial garments. Some are located throughout the United States and abroad. Many of these groups will donate the gowns to local hospitals. Other organizations offer the gowns to families who have lost a baby. The Angel Gowns Project, which is located in Albany, NY, is one example of this. It repurposes donated wedding gowns into burial gowns for newborns.
A woman named Marie Murphy, who is a NICU nurse, noticed a sad need for infant burial garments. She started a nonprofit organization to help other parents who had lost a baby. Her organization has now branched out into making other baby clothing as well.
Some families prefer to have the deceased fully dressed. Others want to have clothing that reflects the deceased’s personal style. It is important to consider the religion and preferences of the deceased. Some religions require that the dead person be buried in formal attire. Others prefer to have the deceased dressed in their everyday attire.
Some religions require that the deceased be buried in a white dress. Certain denominations of Buddhism require the dead to be buried in white to symbolize virtue. There are also some Catholics who prefer to have their deceased buried in a formal dress. In addition, there are a few religions that have specific hairstyles and dress requirements. If you are interested in donating clothing to a particular religion, check with the church leaders.
The Angel Gowns Project is a non-profit organization that repurposes donated wedding gowns into beautiful infant burial gowns. It is also a part of NICU Helping Hands, a nonprofit organization that offers practical help to families of NICU patients. These garments are given to families who have lost babies, which gives them much needed relief.
Another organization that offers burial gowns is Mattie’s Memory. The founder, Hazel Koch, received donations of fabric and other items from various families. She then assembled these items into memory bags and sent them to hospitals in Southeastern Wisconsin. The bags include burial gowns and other items that families can use to comfort their bereaved family members.
In addition, there are a variety of burial garments for men. LH Design offers burial garments for women that are designed for African culture. The garments are meant to be elegant and enhance the beauty of the deceased’s afterlife. The gowns are available in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes. The company also offers a variety of beaded pearl dresses. LH Design also has 16 colors available in classic lace styles.
If you are interested in donating burial clothing, there are many charitable organizations that will accept homemade items. Internet searches will help you locate organizations that offer donations.