Ballet Brands Diversify

In Ballet Brands Diversify I show you some of the products that I've received from some of the different brands of pointe shoes and softs shoes showcasing how they're trying to diversify their lines and make them more inclusive for all dancers. I’m really excited to show you some of these products. 

Gaynor Minden: I'm going to start with Gaynor Minden. Why Gaynor? Gaynor Minden was one of the first pointe shoe companies to offer skin tone shoes in 2017 when they debuted their line Nude For All. These Pointes come in Pink, Cappuccino, Mocha and Espresso. It’s a beautiful satin shoe and if you’re a Gaynor Minden fan you’ll be happy wearing these.

Freed of London: Next I have Freed of London. In 2018, in collaboration with London’s Ballet Black, Freed started producing two different shades of skin tone pointe shoes, one in Bronze and one in Brown. It’s a beautiful satin shoe. Freed created the shoes with matching satin ribbon, mesh elastic and tights. They don’t offer it in their elastic ribbon yet. Freed tights are soft, not shiny and have nice thin fabric. I’m very pleased that Freed is offering the whole package: Shoes through to tights, ribbon and elastic, for a nice seamless look.

Russian Pointe: Next I have Russian Pointe. Russian Pointe also makes pointe shoes in several skin tone satins. The line is called RP Palette, and includes all their satins. They also offer this line in matching ribbons, elastics, tights and soft shoes! The Palette shades are called Almond, Cashew and Hazelnut. The ribbon is a traditional satin ribbon. It’s quite shiny on one side so if you prefer matte just turn the ribbon over and sew it shiny side down! The elastic is a sturdy, 1” elastic of nice quality. The tights have a nice feel, a good waist band and are not shiny. The soft shoes are a split sole, stretch canvas and they come pre sewn. Everyone likes a pre sewn shoe! 

Capezio: Capezio known for their excellent quality products, has been making soft slippers, tights and bodysuits for some time in shade options including Tan, Brown, Light Suntan and Mocha. Their popular, stretch canvas, pre sewn, lightweight Hanami slipper among them. They have committed to making pointe shoes in more than pink options. 

FYI, custom orders are probably the norm right now when choosing skin tone shades in many pointe shoe brands. Hopefully they will be more readily available soon.

Bloch: Let’s look at Bloch. Bloch is committed to producing skin tone pointe shoes, have plans to carry some shades in stock and some will be custom order. Stand by for more on that. They have been producing the Bloch Pump and Bloch Performa in different shade options for some time. Their shades are Light Sand, Sand, Coffee and Cocoa. The Pump is a good quality, traditional canvas shoe with no stretch and does not come pre sewn. The Performa is a thinner shoe than the Pump and it comes pre sewn. Both excellent quality soft shoes. I look forward to more options on the horizon from Bloch.

So Danca: Let's not forget about So Danca. So Danca is also working on their options in pointe shoe shades. They do have options in soft shoes and tights, including their soft slippers in Mocha, Caramel, and Suntan. So Danca slippers are also a stretch canvas, come pre sewn and are a little higher in the vamp. Excellent quality. So Danca tights are a lovely quality, soft, thin and, from what I can tell, in the sample swatch of tights I received they are not shiny.

Grishko: You can order Grishko pointe shoes in so many different colours. Sapphire, Red, Violet, Green, they will send you whatever colour you want it seems! However further to that, they also have it in White, Pink, Tan, Dark nude, Black. So if you are a Grishko wearer you have a lot of options! 

Blendz Apparel: Blendz Apparel is an exciting company I want to tell you about. They do not make pointe shoes but, they do make soft shoes, tights and bodysuits for all ages exclusively in skin tones. Their products are beautiful quality, shades and textures. Blendz Apparel comes in 4 shades, Confident Cocoa, Maven Mahogany, Tenacious Tan, and Brazen Brown. The soft shoes come pre sewn and are a split sole canvas. What I love about this company is that you can buy your shoes, your tights and your leotards, and be matched to your skin tone. That seamless line for dance is lovely. Also, please read their about us page for an inspiring story by an entrepreneur with a great philosophy. 

Okay, that’s all I have for now! I don’t want to forget about any brand… Wear Moi, Sansha, Fuzi, Suffolk, Repetto… There will be more options out there I haven't explored yet, or that are on the way as dance brands work towards honouring their commitments to create more diverse and inclusive products lines. It’s long overdue but, really exciting!