Prepare to Be Obsessed With This Ballerina-Owned Fashion Line
Dancers trying their hand at designing is nothing new. But they do tend to stick with studio or performance-wear (think Miami City Ballet’s Ella Titus and her line of knit warm-ups or former NYCB dancer Janie Taylor and her ballet costumes). But several dancers at American Ballet Theatre—corps members Jamie Kopit, Erica Lall, Katie Boren, Katie Williams, Lauren Post, Zhong-Jing Fang and soloist Cassandra Trenary—are about to launch a fashion line that’s built around designs that can be worn outside of the studio. Titled Company Cooperative, the luxe line of women’s wear is handmade in New York City’s garment district and designed by the dancers themselves.
“We started Company Cooperative because we wanted to translate the dance culture into a more tangible form of artistic expression,” the dancers said in a press release. “Often on tour, in different cities and environments we’re exposed to various cultures and climates. We aimed to design a season-less and adaptable wardrobe to reflect our globetrotting lifestyle.”
Details like satin trim will remind you of the ribbons on your pointe shoes, but added to black, high-waisted pants, it’s easy to picture them in everyday settings. The dancers carefully considered all of the materials that went into the line, listing vegan-suede and moisture-wicking and waterproof fabrics as their go-tos.
And while nothing is available for sale just yet, we’ve already been choosing our favorites on their Instagram, where the do-it-all dancers also model the collection.