Tariffs and duties can have a big impact on small businesses like tutu makers. On this week’s show we discuss potential impacts faced by increased costs of materials, availability of materials, and tariff fees going into and out of Canada and the US. There are a lot of unknowns, but Michelle, Casey and Emma discuss their strategies for what may lie ahead. What strategies are you using to plan for the upcoming costume season?

White House statement on de minimus tariffs

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-closes-de-minimis-exemptions-to-combat-chinas-role-in-americas-synthetic-opioid-crisis/

Wired.com story on de-minimus tariffs

https://www.wired.com/story/tariffs-temu-shein-trump-de-minimis

Canada’s import and export tariffs

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/programs/international-trade-finance-policy/canadas-response-us-tariffs.html

How to Contact Us:

Like and subscribe to our podcast.

Follow us on social media! @ tutuartistsstudio on facebook and instagram

Casey online at tidewaterdancewear.com and on instagram and facebook @TidewaterDancewear.

Michelle on Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook @IcantIhavedanceshop

Emma online at tutusceleste.com and on social media @tutus_celeste

Reach out to us to share your experiences, questions, and ideas by direct message, comment or by email at Tutuartistsstudio@gmail.com

Join us as we talk to Jarod Lewis to talk about the design process at New York City Ballet. We also discuss the creation of the new costumes for Mystic Familiar and Paquita. The costumes for these two ballets were built simultaneously and couldn’t be more different! The costumes for Mystic Familiar were reminiscent of streetwear rather than a classical ballet costume such as in Paquita.

We hope that you will feel encouraged by our conversation with Kendall Swendson while she talks about her path as a costume creator. Kendall shares with us how her collegiate training has prepared her for her many roles as a stitcher, freelance costumer, and teacher.

The Tutu Artists’ talk to Melissa Rumrill about her experiences as a wardrobe supervisor for Hamilton, television, and as a freelance costume maker.

How to Contact Us:

Like and subscribe to our podcast.

Follow us on social media! @ tutuartistsstudio on facebook and instagram

Casey online at tidewaterdancewear.com and on instagram and facebook @TidewaterDancewear.

Michelle on Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook @IcantIhavedanceshop

Emma online at tutusceleste.com and on social media @tutus_celeste

Reach out to us to share your experiences, questions, and ideas by direct message, comment or by email at Tutuartistsstudio@gmail.com

The Tutu Artists talk about the project that they have been working on at the end of the calendar year and for winter shows.

The Artists also discuss some questions from listeners including sourcing embellishments, creating that perfect English point on a bodice, and demystifying belle and half tutus. If you have a question, episodeidea, or would like to be part of our podcast please don’t hesitate to reach out! Our contact information is in the show notes and our social media bios.

How to Contact Us:

Like and subscribe to our podcast.

Follow us on social media! @ tutuartistsstudio on facebook and instagram

Casey online at tidewaterdancewear.com and on instagram and facebook @TidewaterDancewear.

Michelle on Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook @IcantIhavedanceshop

Emma online at tutusceleste.com and on social media @tutus_celeste

During this episode we talked about developing a rental program with Chris Takashima. Chris is the owner of Much Ado Tutus and has been a costumer for 25 years and specializes in all types of dancewear. She works with all levels of dancers from pre-pro to professional to professional companies. Much Ado Tutus not only creates custom dance costumes for purchase but also has a rental inventory of over 90 costumes.

During this episode we talk to Jarod Lewis of the NY City Ballet about City Ballet’s upcoming season. Jared runs through the upcoming 2024-2025 NYC Ballet season and the projects that he will be working on including Alexei Ratmanski’s world premier ballet February 2025. This ballet will be the first brand new tutu ballet that will be designed since Barbara Karinska designed for NYC Ballet.

Each year City Ballet rebuilds several costumes for Nutcracker. This year they will rebuild one pink and one green sugar plum, one dew drop, and marzipan costumes.

Jarod walks us through reconstructing Errante (formerly titled Tzigane) set to be on stage in spring (May 14-24) 2025. We hope that you enjoy hearing about the documentation process-building the costume “bibles' ', as well as the process of sourcing materials and building costumes. The hosts of Tutu Artists’ Studio found that much of what this larger professional shop does transitions well to us as independent costumers.

How to Contact Us:

Like and subscribe to our podcast.

Follow us on social media! @ tutuartistsstudio on facebook and instagram

Casey online at tidewaterdancewear.com and on instagram and facebook @TidewaterDancewear.

Michelle on Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook @IcantIhavedanceshop

Emma online at tutusceleste.com and on social media @tutus_celeste

Reach out to us to share your experiences, questions, and ideas by direct message, comment or by email at Tutuartistsstudio@gmail.com

Bonus Episode: Live from Tutu Maker Network

During this episode, Michelle is joined on a panel by Nicole Roque, Codi Rasor, Tammi DeMattia and surprise guest Jarod Lewis to record a live podcast. This was recorded on July 16, 2024 during the first Tutu Maker Network event in New York City. During the TMN, tutu makers enjoyed fellowship, shopping and great food in addition to a tour of the costume shops of Eric Winterling and NYC Ballet and American Ballet Theatre’s Like Water For Chocolate.

Anyone interested in participating in a Smash the Stash Challenge? Send us a message and let us know your thoughts!