Greek Bonfire
Well-known member
I had a couple of "older costumes" and I swear they must've had steel in there somewhere because they were so durable.
These are all great! thank you guy" i cant believe 7 layers of denim was used!!! how did any one get a needle through that?
Thimble and pliers.
would anyone know a person, or would any one have a 70s bra that was used to heavy beading or coin work, that would be willing to deconstruct it in part to show construction?
Heres my thinking........ im a busty lady, and many hand made bedhlas these days do not support the weight of coin work alone, never mind coin work with a big bust, so im very curious to know how they did it in the 70s knowing that A, they did not really have the internet knowledge they have today and B, the "bases" they had to work with were basic fabric bras with 0 moulded foam. I understand that for some, to deconstruct a much beloved vintage bedhla may be sacrilege, but i reckon it would help alot of dancers these days with construction of something sturdy
Do you mean the professionally made ones? I don’t know about the 1970s but the Madam Abla ones in the 1990s were not based on fabric bras with moulded foam but made from patterns. There was someone who advised on how to make these patterns in dance magazine Mosaic. From what I remember you drew the shape (following her instructions) onto very heavy thick cotton using a biro, then cut it out. I think you made it in sections (bra cups, back strap, shoulder straps) and stitched them together using thick cotton as padding. Then you sew the sequins on and add the trailing beading. The whole think is very rigid and inflexible, it’s a bit like wearing a suit of armour and in order to get it to fit you have to sew on and adjust heavy duty hooks and bars. But it does offer excellent support and can also support any amount of beading and bead fringing,