Foraging for belly dance costumes and clothing (UK, Part 1)

When I first moved to the UK in 2010, shopping for belly dance costumes was not for the faint of heart. You had to be bloody good at foraging, imaginative enough to repurpose other costumes into something suitable for belly dance, or pay a hefty surcharge (and inflated rates) to import original goods from Turkey or Egypt. The few stores that did cater to the London scene had limited stock and were not catering for the fast-growing tribal fusion community that demanded for a variety of styles.

So, with our "Carry on" attitudes, we quickly turned to other methods.

Many dancers took to learning how to create their own costumes, studying photos of belly dance celebrities and mimicking the patterns or watching YouTube videos posted by generous vloggers explaining the basic step-by-steps. Others were inspired to become procurers of costumes from afar, bringing in wholesale material from South East Asia and The Americas. The rest turned to the main online retailer at the time – eBay – for some help acquiring costumes from China or India at more reasonable rates.

(Although, a part of me can imagine olden-day gangster belly dancers smuggling contraband into the country from shopping havens in the US and mainland Europe - but instead of cigarettes and bubble gum, you had coin belts and the latest harem pants.)

Here are 9 ways for sourcing belly dance costumes for London dancers:

1. Shop online.

Yes, it's a no-brainer – but, with big tech giants like Amazon pushing the shopping experience into a new frontier, we are spoiled with decreased costs of shipping and delivery times – and most online retailers have already competitively followed suit. I've started the Belly Dance Shopping Directory so that you can read an overview on some of the online retailers I've found very helpful in getting my costume selection started. Some of the best sites for belly dance options are Etsy and Ali Express. In London, there's also online retailer Turkish Emporium, which has its offices in Erith. In Brighton, there's BrightonOrient, which looks like it has some great offerings as well. With anything you can't see in person – try and read reviews and always ask the seller for the fabric and material information!

2. Purchase from local individual sellers.

Look within your own community for local, individual sellers! If you're in the London / Watford area, there's Urban Tribal Dancewear that has slowly been securing its spot as a go-to for beautiful 25-yard Gypsy skirts, hip scarfs and bloomers – most recently, it has introduced customised headwear starting at £35. In Fife, there's Barocco Tribal, whose founder sources antique silk saris and repurposes them into dancewear – their steampunk twist makes them a fun alternative to more traditional wear.

3. Stock up (or get recommendations) at a belly dance festival.

If you're at a belly dance show or weekend festival, there's a big chance that there will be costume and accessory sellers onsite. Take this opportunity to try on costumes, meet sellers, ask for recommendations from other festival participants (who might have access in their local community) and get into thrill of shopping! A favourite at Tribal Fusion bellydance events includes The Tribal Temptress, which designs and creates custom headpieces, jewellry and belts amongst other dance accessories. An upcoming festival in the UK with shopping options includes Infusion Emporium.

4. Make your own.

If you've a knack for crafts, why not try making your own costume? YouTube has a plethora of DIY content to follow along, but I absolutely love user Sparkle Belly's videos. There's a reason why she has over 42K followers - she makes creating costumes really easy to follow and has so many videos on different topics, that even a crafts-novice like me can make easy fixes to glitz up basic costumes or create brand new ones.

5. Join or start a community swap.

Regardless if you're in a bellydance school, a troupe or a weekly class – surely, you'll have access to a group of other dancers with a closet full (or two) of costumes. Suggest a community swap, create a Facebook group, or look for an open group like the Tribal & Fusion Belly Dance Swap and Sell. Some rules to follow: if it's a costume swap, make sure you are clear on the rules – ie, if it's no cash exchanged; if it's a yard sale, clearly state how old / used the piece is and how much you want for it, and if negotiating / bartering is allowed.

6. Purchase from your dance teacher.

There is a rising number of teachers who either design their own line of clothing / costumes or are distributors for certain brands. (And that makes sense – what better way to market costumes and clothing than in action?) Former Bellydance Superstars Zoe Jakes opened up her ShadowBox store last year in the US (although not sure about shipping) and Rachel Brice sells Datura-branded dance clothing. Legendary Fat Chance Belly Dance has an online shop with clothing, books, cosmetics and bags. In London, teacher Melissa Bellydance is behind the Cavicea line and Turkish dancer Ozgen has a directory full of helpful links with shopping options. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher for tips on where to find costumes and costumers - they have been in the 'biz' for much longer and should have some tried-and-true recommendations.

7. Repurpose dance costumes from other dance forms.

That gorgeous Lehenga and Choli set you bought for a traditional Asian performance? You might be able to use some of it for an Odissi-style belly dance you're now learning. That silky, flowy circle skirt that you purchased for Ballroom Dancing? Why not top it with a matching bra and belt sets and use it for your next "Oriental" belly dance showcase? That crop top your Contemporary / Ballet / Jazz teacher had you all buy last year? Match it with loose trousers and heaps of cool, chunky jewellry to create a Tribal Fusion belly dance costume. That short fringe skirt you thought looked super cute for your Latin dance performance? Wear it on top of flared trousers and use it as a fun "swish" belt that will look amazing when you move!

8. Visit one of the few shops in the UK.

Those in central London can pop into Bellydance Boutique in Barnes, which is a showroom for a larger online retailer. The options look full and plenty, and promises a personal shopping experience. Closer to Essex? Online retailer Terizah's Souk now has a showroom in Rayleigh, Essex, with one open house event each month. In terms of jewellry and accessories, you don't really have to stick to "belly dance" or "tribal fusion" stores for that - you can go to any of the open markets and crafts fairs all over.

9. Get one custom-made from a tailor.

Of course, this is the most expensive option, but I didn't want to leave out the obvious. If you have some budget to burn, and want something super specific and super custom, then find a trusted belly dance tailor to create a look for you. A friendly tip: If purchasing from abroad, know your measurements and leave some room to breathe. It's always easier taking something in rather than making something looser. The exception to this rule is in the bra cup. It's a bit tricky to make huge bra cups look proportioned to your bosoms if you order more than one cup bigger in size.

As of May 5, 2019, all of the shops mentioned were open and running good-to-high quality services – do let me know if that's no longer the case. Email me on cleverbellydance@gmail.com for more information, and I'll update.

Anything to add? Email me that, too; this is an open blog x

Just for fun – I took a screen shot at what Google comes up with in London when you search for "belly dance costumes". Out of the 8 listings – only 2 are actual stores! So really, roll up your sleeves and brace yourself.

Happy shopping,

K