KUDERA a(r)telier X Fallen Angels Dance Theater Company X Roberts Recycling Ltd

When KUDERA a(r)telier was tasked with designing performance costumes for the Fallen Angels Dance Theatre Company, the goal was clear: create something light, easy to wear, and visually cohesive for 10 dancers, all while staying deeply rooted in sustainable design principles.

The piece, titled “Holding Light,” immediately evoked feelings of positivity, optimism, hope, courage, the future, and community. I wanted every stage of the design process to reflect those exact values, starting with the very fabric of the garments themselves.

To align with my personal commitment to sustainability, I partnered with Roberts Recycling Ltd to source organic cotton T-shirts and hoodies made from soft, breathable organic cotton jersey.

Upcycling garments was a concept used in a previous performance,and the dancers were thrilled to embrace an eco-friendly ethos once again.

Choosing the right material was the critical first step. Just like the first glimpse of light, the fabric needed to minimize environmental harm right from its origins:

Chemical-Free Origins: Starting with organic cotton jersey ensured no harmful chemicals were used during production.

Ethical Roots: The garments were originally made by Rapanui, an ethical brand, and previously used to highlight the work of several charities.

Empowering Community: Before being upcycled, the pieces were used in screen-printing practices by individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds
learning new skills.

To me, this rich history was the “Light” I wanted to hold and pass forward.

While cohesion across the 10 performers was essential, I also wanted each dancer to feel connected to their individual identity. I asked every performer to pick a colour that felt special to them- hearing choices like “sunshine” rather than just “yellow” brought a personal warmth to the design.

Tops: I made intentional slashes into the white organic cotton jersey outer tops. The crisp white fabric distorts the original prints while revealing
each dancer’s chosen colour underneath, creating a visual effect that resembles the flicker of a flame, each dancer’s inner light shining through
the original garment.

Trousers & Shorts: The tops are paired with trousers and shorts reworked directly from organic cotton jersey hoodies. I chose a rich petrol blue – reminiscent of the intense flame at the very centre of a candle or a petrol lamp- anchoring the lower half of the outfit with deep symbolic light.

Arm & Wrist Accessories: To minimize waste, leftover organic cotton jersey scraps from the tailoring process were repurposed into custom arm
and wrist accessories. These additions draw focus to the dancers’ extensions and gestures, visually enhancing every movement on stage.

Every garment is unique, just like each dancer, yet fully connected as part of the same collection and movement. Each dancer holds their own light,
yet together, they form one

Find out more about KUDERA a(r)telier here

Find out more about Roberts Recycling here