|
fashion: feature
 Tamsin Cooper and the Royal New Zealand Ballet: first position
The
Royal New Zealand Ballet has announced its first-ever fashion
accessories’ range, a collaboration with designer Tamsin
Cooper
photographed by Luke Calder
THE ROYAL
NEW ZEALAND
BALLET should be known for fashion—or
at least its past 12 to 18 months. In that period, the publicity
for the ballet, with ever more glamorous imagery, hinted at a growing
awareness of fashion.
Fashion and dance have come together frequently—they
seem like natural bedfellows, each affecting popular culture in
their own way. It makes complete sense, therefore, that the Royal
New Zealand Ballet would create a fashion accessories’ range—but
which designer had the feminine sensibility that could fit with
its brand?
The question would make an interesting study
in to co-branding, but the Ballet’s choice of Tamsin Cooper
seems to be the right one. Cooper, based near Arrowtown, was commissioned
to create luxury accessories that would allow the Royal New Zealand
Ballet to extend its brand, not just to ballet fans but to those
who delight in brooches, necklaces and keepsakes that help them
remember a performance.
As well as these items, Cooper has hair ties,
a compact mirror, a silk shoe bag, shoulder bag and evening clutch
bag.
The Ballet’s general manager, Amanda Skoog,
says the decision was commercial, and complements its core brand
well. Meanwhile, Cooper says in her press release that she had once
dreamed of becoming a ballerina, and the range helps her realize
that.
In earlier conversations with Lucire,
Cooper expressed a great deal of excitement about the collaboration.
The range also extends her reach, one which had already grown considerably
in the mid-2000s.
The range will be available at the theatres where
the Royal New Zealand Ballet will perform, at selected retailers
throughout New Zealand, and online through both the
Ballet’s and Tamsin
Cooper’s websites.
The photographs were shot by Cooper’s husband,
Luke Calder (not to be confused with the Australian-based photographer
of the same name), in Wellington in May. •
Add
to Del.icio.us | Digg
it | Add
to Facebook
|
Fashion and dance have come together frequently—they
seem like natural bedfellows, each affecting popular culture in
their own way. It makes complete sense, therefore, that the Royal
New Zealand Ballet would create a fashion accessories’ range
|
/ 
/ 
/ 
/ 
/ 
/ 
/ 
