Introducing The Royal Ballet School x Freed of London centenary dancewear collection
We are thrilled to announce that The Royal Ballet School has partnered with Freed of London to release a limited-edition dancewear collection that blends heritage craftsmanship with timeless ballet elegance.
Marking 100 years of excellence, the collection has been designed in close collaboration with the School and created exclusively for this milestone, reflecting a shared legacy rooted in craftsmanship, artistry, and an unwavering commitment to supporting dancers at every stage of their training. Each piece embodies tradition, technical expertise and modern elegance, offering a premium, studio-ready range of dancewear that captures the spirit and global reputation for excellence that continue to define both British brands today.
An enduring partnership
The collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship spanning decades, with Freed having supplied our students with uniforms and expertly fitted pointe shoes throughout its history.
In the early years of the School, many teachers would bring groups of girls to have their pointe shoes fitted at the Freed of London shop by Mrs Freed and her team. From the late 1970s the Freed fitting team, headed by Michele Attfield MBE, would visit White Lodge every term and Upper School every September to fit the girls’ pointe shoes. In 1996, this evolved to fitting and supplying all dance shoes for the School’s students. In 1998, Freed became the official designer and maker of the School’s full-time training uniform, which has since had four design and colour palette iterations.
Now, for the first time, this exclusive collection extends this heritage beyond the School, allowing dancers around the world to experience and wear the same level of quality, performance and craftsmanship trusted by generations of Royal Ballet School students.
Inspired by yesterday’s legends, engineered for today’s dancers
‘The collection draws inspiration from the iconic Bridge of Aspiration, the architectural link between The Royal Ballet School and the Royal Opera House. The leotards’ detailing reflects the bridge’s striking linear structure, with clean, sculpted lines symbolising strength, discipline and technical precision, mainly elements we see in the students of The Royal Ballet School. In contrast, the printed mesh fabric introduces soft, flowing lines and blended colours capturing the fluidity, artistry and expressive movement of dance. Together, these elements mirror the journey of a dancer; grounded in structure and training, yet free in performance and creativity.’
– Freed of London designer
Designed to be worn separately or mix and match to create one complete outfit, the collection includes four unique styles of leotards, two styles of skirts, and two accessories in a royal and powder blue colour palette, custom watercolour panels and The Royal Ballet School 100 years and Freed of London logo lock-up in gold.
The leotards and skirts pay homage to a remarkable lineage of artists whose influence has shaped the School’s century of excellence, including our founder Dame Ninette de Valois; alum and former Director of The Royal Ballet, Dame Monica Mason; alum and former prima ballerina of The Royal Ballet, Dame Antoinette Sibley; alum and former Principal of The Royal Ballet, Dame Darcey Bussell; former Director of the School and de Valois’ close collaborator, Ursula Moreton; and the iconic alum and Prima Ballerina Assoluta of The Royal Ballet, Margot Fonteyn. Each figure represents a unique chapter in our history, and their enduring artistry and influence are reflected through the timeless design of the products.
Each piece in the collection has been carefully crafted to achieve the ideal balance of fit, comfort, support, and freedom of movement, honouring the artistry and discipline of classical ballet. Designed using an innovative sustainable techno-fabric, the garments combine exceptional durability, softness, and breathability, creating a textile specifically suited for the demands of dancers. The material offers a unique balance of muscular compression and comfort, supporting performance while maintaining an elegant, refined silhouette, and delivering both technical excellence and environmental responsibility. Each product is proudly made by hand in England at Freed of London’s Blaby, Leicestershire factory, reflecting a deep-rooted tradition of British craftsmanship and The Royal Ballet School’s heritage of classical training.
Freed of London Senior Manager, Sophie Simpson MBE, said of the partnership:
‘The entire process of developing The Royal Ballet School x Freed of London centenary dancewear collection has been completely joyous. Right from our initial conversation with The Royal Ballet School if was obvious that we had the same vision for how this collection should evolve. Freed of London has worked behind the scenes with The Royal Ballet School for many years, so it’s fantastic that we are now able to create such an exciting and beautiful range of dancewear to celebrate the School’s centenary.’
The Royal Ballet School’s Director of Audiences and Communications, Dorothy Greenfield, added:
‘It feels especially fitting to celebrate our centenary with Freed, who have supported our dancers throughout their training for many years through their exceptional craftsmanship. This partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to excellence, and we’re delighted to share these elegant, beautifully crafted pieces with young dancers, who can now feel part of the School’s 100-year heritage.’
The collection is modelled by Royal Ballet School Associate and full-time students, with the campaign photography and videos shot in the School’s Covent Garden studios.
The Royal Ballet School x Freed of London centenary collection is now available to shop at royalballetschool.org.uk and store.freedoflondon.com
Photo credit: ©2026 The Royal Ballet School. Photographed by Photography by ASH.
