Thread: Probing for interest: potential amateur costume buisness

Dear all, I'm but a beginning dancer and have discovered that besides dancing i love the costuming of belly dancers. As a new dancer, my costume budget is rather err limited. But i love designing costumes, specifically beaded, bejeweled bra tops. Is there in interest in the community? For now, I'm planning to start with just bra tops and if the interest increases, ill expand to include skirts, harem pants etc. I'd be selling the bra tops at reduced price, to make them affordable to every dancer beginner to professional. Standard colors made as well as custom requests. I'd love to hear opinions from you all! Let me know if you're interested :)

,r:;

Hi there!

I think there's always room for more sparklies in the BD world. :) And with the state of the economy, affordability is key. But you might consider adding matching belts to your line-up of bras. Since I don't sew myself, I probably wouldn't buy a bra without a belt because it would be a hassle finding something to match the colors and design of the top.

I, too, would search for a matching set rather than a bra only. Would these tops be intended to wear as a set or are they stand alone bras that would not require a belt (i.e., to wear with a sparkly skirt)?

Do you have any samples of what you have made in the past or what you are making right now?

thanks for replying ladies! i'm working on more samples and will link the webpage (probably a blog type spot). and i love the idea of matching belts, and agree that would be essential! thanks and i'll keep you all posted :)

La Soraya,

Congratuations on finding this dance and finding us here on Bhuz. You might read through the many threads on the Fitness, Beauty, and Costuming thread for ideas. There have been many discussions are things we would like to see in costumes and many Bhuzzers are accomplished seamstresses who make or alter costumes for themselves or for others. Lots of good ideas to be found there.

Souzan

HI La_Soraya:

How familiar are you with the costuming products already on the market, the needs of a dancer (bra support, costume durability, professional look), etc.? Have you tried on and danced in various grades of costumes, from amateur to professional? I would say first step is know your market. As a beginning dancer, I had some very....different ideas about costuming than I do now.

Originally Posted by ssipes

HI La_Soraya:

How familiar are you with the costuming products already on the market, the needs of a dancer (bra support, costume durability, professional look), etc.? Have you tried on and danced in various grades of costumes, from amateur to professional? I would say first step is know your market. As a beginning dancer, I had some very....different ideas about costuming than I do now.

As a dancer who now does some custom made work for local dancers, I agree.

I think it takes some experience dancing in your own creations, and the creations of others (pro and not) to really get a solid idea of what sort of structural needs need to be adressed under the decoration issue. I would be wary of a starter dancer's goods (this would depends some if the dancer had prior experience creating garments) and would want to some sort of testimonials from other people who had bought and used the garments and could vouch for durability/comfort/ya know.

Also remember,don't underestimate teh time it takes to make quality garments, before you think about selling, really do some examination of the time it takes to make them (and price that time) on TOP of the supply costs. Without wholesale supplies you might not be able to price in a manner that is competitive and pays you well.

Theres a book called "Basic guide to pricing your craftwork" check your libraries and see if they can get it for you, it's for other sorts of crafts but has a lot of food for though.

Great ideas ladies, come them coming! I have a good background in sewing and my first priority in creating costumes is their durability, so i'm glad thats a cheif concern for you all as dancers. i have danced in a variety of costumes, bellydance included as well as other styles and i also know that comfort is truly key as well. I'm curious to hear from belly dancers that have a more full, curvaceous figure, what do you look for in a costume as opposed to other dancers that are for example taller and not so curvy? what does the market lack in that sense? thanks!

When I saw your thread title I wasn't sure what an "amateur business" would be. I think you mean costumes for amateurs? Affordable stuff for those who are not going pro? Is that what you are thinking of?

Originally Posted by la_soraya

Great ideas ladies, come them coming! I have a good background in sewing and my first priority in creating costumes is their durability, so i'm glad thats a cheif concern for you all as dancers. i have danced in a variety of costumes, bellydance included as well as other styles and i also know that comfort is truly key as well. I'm curious to hear from belly dancers that have a more full, curvaceous figure, what do you look for in a costume as opposed to other dancers that are for example taller and not so curvy? what does the market lack in that sense? thanks!

La Soraya,

There have been a number of threads on Bhuz about what dancers are looking for, including some recent ones about what full-figured dancers want. Most of the costumes coming out of Egypt are for more petite figures. Taller dancers, mature dancers, and fuller-figured dancers often find it more difficult to find costumes that fit but more than that--costumes that flatter their shapes.

What I think you need to do is to solidify exactly what market you are aiming toward. Is it class/practice wear? Student troupe costuming where you can design and produce multiple coordinating costumes for several body types? Dresses? Bedlah? Folkloric? Tribal or tribal fusion? Faux gypsy stuff? Egyptian glam? etc.

Take a look at what is already out there. Welcome to L. Rose Designs produce high quality, made in America, costume pieces such as skirts, dresses, pants, veils, tops that are custom made to order at very reasonable prices. These are generally unembellished and worn with the dancers own bedlah or later embellished by the customer herself. Sharifwear (SharifWEAR.com - Original designs for divas who dance - Perfect for clubs, classes and performances - Salsa, Gypsy, Tribal, Oriental, Egyptian, Belly Dancing) has a variety of practice and performance wear that is perfect for student troupes, folkloric, teachers, fusion, haflas. Magidah (Magidahwear - For the booty magnificent) has a made in America line of practice wear for fuller figured dancers. In addition to Ozma, who posted above, and Magidah, otherBhuzzers's www.invokethegoddess.com and Eshta Amar - Los Angeles based Belly Dancer create custom costumes for dancers at various levels. Audra Evans (index) and Jessenia (New Page 1) manufacture gorgeous silk veils and other costume items.

These are some good places to start to see what is already out there. All of the sites I mentioned produce well-made, reasonably priced costume items.

You mentioned bras--so here are some of the things that curvier dancers need and want--support, comfy straps, more coverage under the arm to elminate the side boob ooze, well-fitted cups, options for more cleavage coverage if necessary, tasteful embellishment that compliments the girls. Sturdy hooks. No elastic anything.

You might also visit Bellydance Costume Goddess Tells All: Enter, www.shira.net/costuming.html, and Costuming Tips for Large-Sized Bellydancers (see my article there about plus size costuming ideas)

Souzan

Keep us posted with your ideas!

Souzan

As a beginning dancer, it would be nice to have something BD to practice in that isn't a performance costume (with the high price). Something flirty and more fun than "workout gear" but not so sparkly that it looks silly in practice/lessons.

I think there's probably a good market for affordable practice gear, what you might call "business casual" BD gear. :)

(Oh, and I have plenty of curves for you to upholster - I think what curvier dancers are looking for is hip lines that don't make a muffin top (i.e. smooth) and upper arm coverage that is flattering. )

I have to say that if you are a skilled pattern maker, some options for "petite" women would be nice. I mean short - not skinny. I have a heck of a time finding gear for me that actually falls at the hips. Normal sizes are too long waisted.

you ladies are really awesome :) let me clarify a little for all:

my goal i think would be to create sparkly, sensual (maybe sexy) practice wear, to make you feel like a goddess without the professional price.

my idea is to have a range from practice with a little glitz to some more embellished bra top/belt combinations that could possible be used in a beginning performance.

what i mean by amateur buisness is that i don't plan to make this a major career choice, just something i enjoy on the side that id like to offer to all women in love with belly dancing.

keep the questions coming, thanks for all the help and support!

Hi La Soraya,

For practice wear, make sure it stretches but holds its shape and is machine washable. Comfort and durability is more important than being sexy. You want tops that do not ride up when you lift your arms and pants that sit firmly on the hips or slightly above. And you need plenty of ease so that the clothing does not restric movement in any way.

Look around any belly dance class and most students and teachers are wearing jazz or yoga pants with a tee shirt or sports bra and maybe a pretty tie top. Something that would be cute would be to have matching hip scarves and tops that could be worn with plain black jazz pants.

Originally Posted by Souzan

Hi La Soraya,
Something that would be cute would be to have matching hip scarves and tops that could be worn with plain black jazz pants.

awesome idea souzan! and the machine washability is crucial, thanks for pointing that out as well. but i love that idea, something cute practical with a matching hip scarf to go with black jazz pants, perfect and versatile. thanks!

Personally, what I think is lacking is tops for fuller figured dancers that offer good support and coverage. Decorated stretchy crop tops that a dancer could wear her own bra under, as well as decorated bras that are full-coverage, with wide straps and wide chest bands.

My pet peeve (and a lot of other people's, too, based on my years of reading people's observations on message boards) is seeing a dancer take the stage at a hafla wearing underwear, no matter how beautifully decorated. The cups from lingerie bras are a great shortcut, but the shoulder and chest straps need to be removed and replaced with wider, sturdier non-stretch versions that use outerwear closures rather then underwear closures.

Another option, that's often simpler (and a better solution for those of us with more extra-juicy-goodness anyway) is a bra with decorated cups and a coordinating underbust vest (or U-top).

Do consider adding simply decorated belts to match, I can't think of a situation where I'd want a bra but not matching hipwear.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Personally, what I think is lacking is tops for fuller figured dancers that offer good support and coverage. Decorated stretchy crop tops that a dancer could wear her own bra under, as well as decorated bras that are full-coverage, with wide straps and wide chest bands.

My pet peeve (and a lot of other people's, too, based on my years of reading people's observations on message boards) is seeing a dancer take the stage at a hafla wearing underwear, no matter how beautifully decorated. The cups from lingerie bras are a great shortcut, but the shoulder and chest straps need to be removed and replaced with wider, sturdier non-stretch versions that use outerwear closures rather then underwear closures.

Another option, that's often simpler (and a better solution for those of us with more extra-juicy-goodness anyway) is a bra with decorated cups and a coordinating underbust vest (or U-top).

Do consider adding simply decorated belts to match, I can't think of a situation where I'd want a bra but not matching hipwear.

Hi Lauren,

I agree with support for practice tops and the ability to wear a bra under cholis. MagidahWear can all be worn with a bra, and the self-bra in the halter actually works! I have worn the halter at all-day vending events without the neck ache due to the design of the wide straps that distribute the weight of the halter better than skinnier ties. The cholis are also adjustable in the front, so if you want more coverage you can leave it wider in front and if you want a little more cleavage, you can pull the ties to narrow the center. But even if you make it narrow in the center it will still cover the center of your bra.

While MagidahWear *does* have sizes that fit fuller figures, it is not a plus-sized line, per se. My block is just targeted for pear and hour-glass figures, whereas most exercise lines (even in the belly dance world) seem to be targeted more for rectangle and apple shapes. We are working to better explain this on the website -- right now I don't think people who haven't seen it in person get that!

Shameless plug over!

Originally Posted by Magidah

Hi Lauren,

I agree with support for practice tops and the ability to wear a bra under cholis. MagidahWear can all be worn with a bra, and the self-bra in the halter actually works! I have worn the halter at all-day vending events without the neck ache due to the design of the wide straps that distribute the weight of the halter better than skinnier ties. The cholis are also adjustable in the front, so if you want more coverage you can leave it wider in front and if you want a little more cleavage, you can pull the ties to narrow the center. But even if you make it narrow in the center it will still cover the center of your bra.

While MagidahWear *does* have sizes that fit fuller figures, it is not a plus-sized line, per se. My block is just targeted for pear and hour-glass figures, whereas most exercise lines (even in the belly dance world) seem to be targeted more for rectangle and apple shapes. We are working to better explain this on the website -- right now I don't think people who haven't seen it in person get that!

Shameless plug over!

Thread Hijack Alert!

Magidah, it was nice to meet you when I was in the states and made a side trip to visit Henna!

I think there is great need for amateur level costuming..think student nights and haflas and beginners or hobbyist dancers who don't want to shell out big bucks for a designer.

Would love to see matching belts or scarves with the tops so that it's a complete set

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