Big Changes Coming to Conscious Costume
It is a pivotal moment for Conscious Costume.
I am deeply indebted to you, our patrons, for investing in the belief that costumes CAN be more sustainable. You believe that we don’t have to be tied to shopping carts and packing tape as a part of our art; instead, we can make the choice to heal ecosystems and invest in communities with our art. I want to be honest with you, as the people most invested in our work: we are facing a cliff.
We launched our recycling, reselling, and rentals service at the dawn of the pandemic (not ideal timing) and we’ve been struggling to pay the bills ever since. During 2020, we were approached by the Apparel Industry Board, Inc to join as an AIBI program, gaining access to the institutional knowledge and community of a 35 year old non-profit.
Recently, AIBI has hired a new Executive Director: Nicole Ruiz (read more here) and we’re thrilled to see how AIBI will develop under her leadership. However, it is clear that it is time for our paths to diverge and for Conscious Costume to continue expanding the footprint of our mission elsewhere! We are still working out the timeline and details of this transition, but it will likely happen in Autumn 2025.
One of the major challenges we know will become sharply more present is financial sustainability. In 2024, less than 50% of our income came from our rentals, reselling, and recycling. This is also by far the most expensive part of our work. The remaining 50% of our income comes from grants and fundraising that are in collaboration with AIBI, and it is unlikely that we will have immediate access to funds like that on our own.
This is a “put up or shut up” moment where I want to put all of my cards on the table and find out what you think the future of Conscious Costume should be.
Conscious Costume wants to continue to offer easy recycling for theatres and designers, and low cost costumes for small companies. However, we would need to DOUBLE our prices to meet the budget gap, and we are committed to remaining accessible to everyone—particularly as material costs are rapidly increasing. In order to avoid this, I’m looking for your help, opinions, and feedback.
There are a few ways you can join the Conscious Costume brain trust:
Set up a 1:1 meeting with me to discuss your ideas and your needs
Comment your idea on this post
Concepts currently being explored:
Online Marketplace
Conscious Costume is testing an online peer-to-peer costume sharing marketplace! If all goes well, we will launch something larger, and you will have the opportunity to list items from your stock (including materials) for sale or rent to your fellow costume artists! This could make you a little extra cash, and ensure that costumes are being used—not just stored.
For years, costume artists have told us that they would shop from peers if it was as easy as shopping on Amazon, so we’re building it.
Imagine this: It’s 11:25 PM. You’re sitting in a production meeting listening to the director, SM, TD, and scenic designer discuss how difficult it is for the dancers to lock the platform wheels in time for the lead’s big moment. You’ve just been told that the quirky best friend character’s Act II dress isn’t working and you’re frantically searching for options because you don’t have time to drive all over town tomorrow. You hop onto Conscious Costume’s marketplace, filter by the decade, color, performer’s measurements, and region; Boom! You have a screen full of options! Pick one to rent, submit the request and rest easy, waiting for your moment to say “nothing for the group.”
We’re not ignorant to the scale of this task. We know that it will take time and energy to upload stock items to a new platform. Ideally, we hope that we’ll be able to make this platform user friendly AND eventually communicate with other inventory management systems.
We are also looking for funding to offer micro-grants to pay for some of the labor needed to upload your pieces to the marketplace.
Membership Changes
Our low, low prices are based on the idea that folks would use the ease and flexibility of CC rentals instead of paying for their own costume storage, but we haven’t had enough people sign up! With a potential move coming up, it’s a great time to re-examine our membership program.
What types of features would encourage you to be a member?
Higher piece discounts for members
Access to “exclusive” storage so other designers can’t access your materials
Monthly membership fees instead of annual
Key access (no appointment necessary)
Lower membership fees
Benefits like discounts to other stores or services
Alteration services
