With 2026 set to be a banner year for sport, Condé Nast Traveller turns its attention to the artisans behind the action. Across the UK and Ireland, we’re spotlighting the makers crafting the equipment, uniforms and tools that make sport possible – while keeping ancient craft and local tradition alive in the process. See more from our Sports & Craft series here.
Like so many little girls, I was mesmerised by ballerinas. I adored watching them tiptoe across the stage on elongated legs, their tulle tutus blooming around their waists. A ballet costume was always my most requested outfit – impractical but magical.
It wasn’t until I studied Image Styling for Performance at the London College of Fashion that I began to appreciate the transformative power of costume. I focused on ballet, spending hours researching Matthew Bourne’s revolutionary male ensemble for Swan Lake. Their bare chests and shredded breeches emphasised the swan’s muscular, untamed nature, completely reimagining it and demonstrating how costume can shape both character and narrative. As a child, I was fascinated with storytelling and the beauty of dance. As an adult, it’s the craftwork and artistry behind the sport that captivates me.
Pointe shoes are an iconic symbol of classical ballet. Their specialised construction allows dancers to rise onto the tips of their toes and perform with the ethereal elegance and technical precision that characterise the art form and captivate audiences. They first appeared on stage in 1823, originally used to help distinguish mortals from otherworldly characters such as spirits and fairies. By the late 19th century, Italian shoemakers had reinforced pointe shoes, allowing ballerinas to perform sustained balances and pirouettes, while influential choreographers like Marius Petipa increasingly incorporated pointe work into their ballets.
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