A family business focused on supporting new ideas and new talent in a new way.
Our Story
House of Roesdahl is owned by Mariane and Felix. Mother and son.
Mariane has worked in costume and fashion for over 35 years. Her passion for history led her to starting her own costume business in 2014. Running a business, and specifically a workroom is exciting, but one person can only do so much. Preferring to focus on creating the patterns and running a workroom, A business partner was required...
Having grown up around research and costume making, it seems inevitable that Felix would grow up creative. He has a passion for good clothes and all of history, not just the well dressed bits! So after University, he joined the industry in 2022 leading the hire department and assisting in the general running of the business. Now he is ready to step up and take on greater responsibility on a project he is passionate about.
We have always been a close family, with strong opinions, care and a love of making things. We enjoy working with passionate makers, encouraging learning, trying new ideas and extending our knowledge as a collective.
The industry is constantly changing, and we are all aware of the environmental impact it has. We are all creatives, wanting to make beautiful things, not to damage the world we live in.
So we are doing things differently -and better!
Exploring and researching
We want to make beautiful garments. Whether historically accurate or fantastical creations, we love exploring techniques, learning how things have been done through the ages, and sharing our knowledge in the workroom, whether it is technical or academic.
Our staff are encouraged to learn more about the things that catch their interest, researching and experimenting with ideas whenever we can.
We are also passionate about encouraging young people setting out in our industry, giving our interns a positive experience, really learning and feeling the positive effects of making clothes with care and attention.
If you are a student looking for a placement, or if you would like to join our workforce, please send us your cv and coverletter via email.
Our projects
We have many ideas we still want to bring to life.
Our main objective is to always create the highest quality possible, in everything we do. We are dressmakers, patterncutters, tailors and leather workers, embroiderers, knitters and quilters, among other things.
Cross-matching these skills gives us opportunities to play with textures, dimensions and material uses in new ways, exploring what textile can do and making recycling it exciting.
So, first we set up Dead Waisted, as a side project to our costume making.
Here we want to create fun garments, of high quality and making getting dressed fun. Using leftover fabrics from productions, we let the colours and textures available inspire our designs.
Soon the ideas took over, and we are now adding accessories to our ready made items -Bags, bumrolls, cushions and pockets, soft toys and quilts. because, why not? we are constantly adding new styles, colours and sizes, so keep an eye on us, or contact us if you can't find what you are looking for.
We are scaling up the recycling, looking to work with more theatres to help with recycling costumes. Cast changes and the hard work theatre garments do can leave you with a large amount of costumes that are no longer workable, but it feels a shame to throw them away. We take them apart and reuse everything possible, or rework them into new costumes for hire, making it easy and simple for theatres to be sustainable in their practises. (Greenbook)
If you are interested in hearing more about any of the above or want to join as staff or volunteer, please contact us.