Frequently Asked Questions - Costumes
How are your costumes designed?Our costumes are designed by following tradition and historical research. Our firm dates back over a century. Anthony Stivanello’s maestro (teacher), Alessandro Puglia, had ties with both Puccini and Verdi. These traditions have been passed down through the generations. So with each design iteration, we have always been faithful to the composer’s wishes.
Are we locked into a particular design?No. We are happy to collaborate with your director or designer and use costumes outside of the production’s original design. We have a tremendous inventory and can adapt your production as needed, either for look or to accommodate more people. For example, an opera company may have quite a few more choristers than is typical.
What about sizes?We require that you supply correct sizes of each individual. We will assign a costume for each person so that it fits.
How are costumes shipped?We ship the costumes in hampers. Each costume is tagged with the name/character/scene for each person. If there is only one piece to the costume (a dress, for example), then it gets laid flat in the hamper. If there is more than one piece (coat, pants, vest, for example), we make a package with all of the items. Delicate items (top hats, bonnets, for example) are packed separately in a dedicated hamper to protect them from getting crushed. We do not ship on hangers, as these could damage the costumes.
Do we have to re-package the costumes when we return them?No. That would be more work for you and more work for us. As long as everything gets returned, everyone is happy.
Is return cleaning required?No. We prefer to use our own dry cleaners that we know will not damage a costume.