Story

I came up with the idea for the Juniper Dress several years ago, back before Margu even existed, when I took a sleeveless button-front pattern block I had created and made it dress-length. I wasn't that crazy about it right after I made it, but after a few months I realized that simple shirtdress had become the most-worn thing in my entire closet.

The Juniper is a re-imagining of that fabled dress — or, more accurately, me taking the idea for that dress and making it even better by adding a full lining, changing the gathered back to a knife-pleated back, adding bust darts for shaping, making it a tad bit longer, and (most importantly) adding not one but two pairs of pockets, one on the bust and another hidden in the side seams. This dress is flowy but not entirely unstructured, trapeze-y but not tent-like, and works wonders with a pair of booties and a denim jacket.

Design Details

• Main fabric: 100% khadi cotton
• Lining fabric: 100% organic cotton
• Designed, cut, and sewn in Arkansas, USA
• Flowy trapeze silhouette
• Fully lined
• Full button front closure
• Subtle high-low hem
• Six knife pleats below back yoke
• Two front patch pockets, bust darts for shaping
• Hidden side seam pockets for your hands or your stuff
• Measures 34" inches long from shoulder
• Hand wash cold, line dry, warm iron as needed (learn more about garment care here)

Materials

This dress is made of handloom fabric woven by hand in India. Handloom was the way basically all fabric was made from the dawn of time until the invention of electricity and modern milling techniques; it requires a high level of skill and craftsmanship, using the same techniques that were used centuries ago. The handloom process uses zero electricity, and the industry employs many skilled workers in rural areas of India where other jobs are scarce, making handloom super sustainable in addition to being breathtakingly beautiful. (Read more about handloom on our blog here.)

This particular fabric is made of 100% khadi (i.e., handspun) cotton. It's a soft, textured, midweight fabric, good for winter layering but breathable for warmer days. The fabric has a true black base with white threads forming the grid pattern; it pairs excellently with denim, jewel tones, and black.

The dress is lined with 100% organic cotton double gauze, produced in India, that I have hand-dyed a shade of dark grey using fiber-reactive dyes. It is unbelievably soft and breathable.

In addition to the fabric, this style uses 100% organic cotton thread, nine vintage mother-of-pearl buttons, and organic cotton labels.

Fit

Take a look at our Size Guide to find your size.

The Juniper is most fitted in the bust, so use your bust measurement when determining your size. This style is pretty loose and flowy, so you have a bit of leeway with size. If your bust measurement falls in between sizes, or if you just want a dress that's extra boxy and drapey, I recommend sizing up.

Alyssa is wearing a size Small and is 5'8" with a 35" bust, 26" waist, and 37" hip.