This is what drove Hannah Barkes, 2nd Year BA (Hons) Professional Dance Performance student, to create her own dancewear brand that she knew would provide dancers with unique, high-quality dancewear.
LSC is always happy to support students with any personal project that contributes in some way to the world of dance, so we recently asked Hannah a few questions to find out how Barkes Dancewear came to be.
From a young age, Hannah felt the design bug. From her earliest years as a dancer, she would create leotard designs on her iPad and imagine the kinds of vibrant patterns and colours she would like to see in the studio.
While she would daydream of owning a dancewear brand, it wasn’t until she and her nan sat together to create her very first homemade leotard that she felt this dream could one day become a reality. “From that moment, I couldn’t stop!” Hannah says. “Since then, I’ve created different leotard styles, tried new ideas, and kept improving along the way.”
Hannah Barkes and her beloved Nan, who helped create the very first Barkes leotard.
The first wave of Barkes Dancewear was the Poppy Collection. Leotards featuring a striking poppy design, with red and black options, available in children’s and adult sizes. The range is customisable, with options for pattern, size, strap thickness, leg cut and more.
“Every piece from Barkes Dancewear is completely handmade by me. What makes us special is how customisable everything is — from choosing colours and designs to even having your own prints made. All our fabric is specifically designed for dance and activewear — it’s soft, stretchy, and supportive.”
Although Hannah will soon be entering her busy final year of study at LSC, she has no desire to slow down her dancewear business. Barkes will soon ship the first orders of their new ‘Ballet in Bloom’ range, which features gentle but eye-catching pastels, with customisable options for base and piping colours. Beyond this, there’s more to come. Hannah has plenty of plans for the future.
“I’m always listening to what dancers are looking for, and designing with that in mind. I plan to grow the range to include ballet skirts, scrunchies and other handmade pieces. My hope is that Barkes Dancewear becomes a go-to for dancers who want something a bit more personal, thoughtful, and unique.”
Reflecting on her time so far at LSC, Hannah says “My time at LSC has been such a valuable part of my journey. My confidence has grown massively, and I’ve learnt so much over the past two years. LSC has been incredibly supportive of Barkes Dancewear, which has given me the space and encouragement to build something I’m really proud of.”
A range of leotards from the new Ballet in Bloom collection.
If you would like to order an attractive, high-quality leotard that you know has been hand-made by Hannah with your needs as a dancer in mind, go to the official Barkes Dancewear website here: https://www.barkesdancewear.com/
You can also follow Barkes Dancewear on Instagram at @barkesdancewear