Brussels opera house holds costume sales for the first time in 10 years

The Brussels opera house De Munt/ La Monnaie is organizing a costume sale on Saturday 7 May for the first time in 10 years. If you want to buy a unique piece that was once on the stage, you must register in advance.

Every piece of set, clothing or footwear worn during the opera performance has personally passed through the hands of the costume designers, shoemakers or set designers. What is not reused is kept. In 2021, for example, De Munt opened a new costume reserve on the roof of its studio building.

"We have been working in the most ecologically responsible way for several years now, and in the case of the suits, that means choosing very selectively which fabrics we work with, washing the suits with the best biodegradable soap and preserving each suit. This preservation is not only important for any reprises, we also archive the most iconic costumes and reuse a lot of material for subsequent costumes," the theater spokesperson told Belga News Agency.

The Brussels opera house needs to sell costumes to avoid overstocking in warehouses. Besides preventing waste, De Munt also wants to give opera fans or clothing enthusiasts the opportunity to buy a unique handmade creation.

If you want to go to the costume sale, you must reserve a place within a time slot: www.lamonnaiedemunt.be/en/program/2395-costume-sales

The online reservation costs 5 euros and it starts on April 30, at noon. The prices of the sold pieces vary from 1 to 160 euros and each buyer may purchase a maximum of eight pieces.

(VIV)

© Belga Photo (François WALSCHAERTS / AFP)