If you need a historical costume or if Santa needs a new suit, The Costume Collective has it all.
The Costume Collective is a shop reimagined after COVID-19 closed the theater industry in 2020. Two major players in the costume rental business went dark during this time – The Guthrie’s Costume Rentals Warehouse on East Hennepin, and Brian Berberich and his Theatrical Costume Company in downtown retired after 30-plus years in business. Seeing the need to save the costume business in the Twin Cities, nine costumers joined together to purchase the collection from Theatrical Costume Company and received donations from the Guthrie to open The Costume Collective.
The nine founding members of The Costume Collective met casually for years. Andrea Gross, one of the co-owners, shared, “Costumers usually work alone in isolation and they wanted to socialize, share techniques and knowledge.” Support for each other and the industry became more important when the pandemic hit as costumers were suddenly faced with no jobs and a failing industry. They had to dream big and their goal was to provide affordable costume rentals to theatres, films, school groups or individuals and have a shared work space for teaching and collaboration.
This new collaborative officially launched in December 2021 and needed a vast space to house the collection. They found the right spot and 14,000 square feet at 3300 5th St NE (behind Brother Justus Whiskey).
Rows and rows of costumes and props fill the space. Items are organized by time period, genre, gender, theatrical and seasonal. All eras are represented. Current hot items are period clothes to attend “The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience” at the Lighthouse Art Space on Central Avenue. All the required props such as shoes, wigs and helmets are available to complete your look. Each garment is cleaned between wearings. Experienced people are ready to help you transform into another space or time.
Part of the reimagining of the business plan was to be aware of the environmental impact of theatrical waste – not just in costumes, but with theatrical sets. Once a theatrical show is over and there is no use for costumes, they can be reused in rental situations here. Many times, a background or prop is used once and then sent into storage or a landfill. Next Stage, a business that shares space in the building has lighting, large props, flats, rugs, set dressings and backdrops and much more that can be rented to any theatre or individual.
Future plans include an in-house costume-making shop, collaborative space and teaching skills to a new generation of costumers. Community outreach is in the forefront of the business plan. Gross noted, “We want to have accessible space to bring in a wider diverse community to learn the trade. You don’t need a fine arts degree to become a costumer – you just need to learn the skill.”
Owners of the collective are Kathy Kohl, Barb Portinga, Val Larche, Andrea Gross, Jennifer Taylor James, Katie Ross, Eleanor Schanilec, Sarah Bissonette and one silent partner.
For more information or learn about volunteer opportunities go here.
Article by Patti Hoffmann, published in the Northeaster newspaper November 30, 2022. Used with permission.