Rockstar Tutu Takes the Lead in the Adult Tutu Couture Industry!
My Day usually begins with a cup of tea and an internet connection. Before I get absorbed in my responsibilities to Tutu.ology, I buzz around the internet looking for new industry trends, online boutiques, and I like to see what funky new goodies people are selling on etsy. Along the way, I have found some absolute favorites. They are the brilliant, talented, and authentically creative. These are the people who propel this industry forward and set the standards higher.
Without further delay, I want to introduce you to Andrea Thornton, founder of Rockstar Tutu- Queen of punk tutu couture! She is definitely on top of her game and knows all about trend-setting because she’s taken this industry by the horns and did it her way. I have a lot of admiration for her unique style and I think her move to take the path she did was a brilliant one. Who ever said tutu’s are just for kids and ballerina’s had it all wrong….Andrea’s proven it! Visit Rockstar Tutu & My Baby Rocks (and put a few things in your shopping cart while you’re at it).
Interview
When did you first realize your gift of design? I’ve always loved art and design. My goals never directly involved fashion or tutus, but I always new I’d choose a career that allowed me to be creative and artistic.
Why did you choose this media? A couple years ago we noticed that customers were searching for tutus on the website of another clothing line we run – My Baby Rocks (www.punkbabyclothes.net). At first, we attempted to just buy tutus wholesale, but were disappointed with the quality available. Tutus from China were cheap, but the quality was often unsatisfactory and the way many were packaged left them badly wrinkled. Many boutiques offered wholesale, but they were all either hand tied or hand sewn and therefore orders had a huge wait time and were often too expensive to justify reselling them. And to order the large quantities we required was simply not even possible for most tutu sellers. It came down to either figuring out a way to make them ourselves or just not selling them at all. We developed a unique process that allows us to sew high volumes of high quality tutus in-house in our Salt Lake City, Utah studio. We sold our tutus under the My Baby Rocks name for a couple years before we decided to create a separate company for our tutus offering all sizes – that was when Rockstar Tutu (www.rockstartutu.com) was born. When did Rock Star Tutu become an official business? Although we’ve been selling out tutus for years, Rockstar Tutu is a fairly recent business. We launched our website www.rockstartutu.com in August of 2010. Your designs are truly unique, luxurious, trendy, and elegant. Where does your inspiration come from? I’m always on the look out for exciting ribbons, colorful fabrics and interesting textures. In nature and even everyday life, there are beautiful color combinations that I love to incorporate into tutus. In both My Baby Rocks and Rockstar Tutu I’ve tried to stray away from traditional styles and colors. While other clothing companies are offering pastel pinks and purples for babies and kids, we like to incorporate bold patterns, bright colors, blacks, and more alternative themes. When I first absorb and process the word “tutu”, my brain converts the word to an image. That image is of a little girl donning a precious tutu, lost in the magic of the moment. Although you indeed fill this slot, your niche caters to grown-ups. Why did you choose this focus? Even as adults, girls need to feel like a princess sometimes. It’s hard to put on a tutu and not feel happy. As a child I never had a tutu. In fact, the first time I’d ever actually worn one was a couple years ago when I made one to wear to an 80′s themed dance party. I was instantly hooked. Since then, I suppose I’ve been making up for lost time and making sure I can get as many girls as possible to join me in the fun. 
About the author: Founder of Tutu.ology (online marketplace and business platform), niche business developer, tutu couture lover and industry guru 
Guys, do these shoes look sexy?
Firstlyyyyy I dress fetish gothic, pvc, corsets, tutus etc
I want to suprise my boyfriend with the whole sexy underwear and heels thing
I want black underwear, but what kind, french, frilly, burlesque knickers etc and suspenders or not?
I’m getting these: http://www.retrorebels.com/images/_lib/tuk-super-platform-black-bondage-shoe-8259-150-1268742600000.jpg
Alternative fashion/Camden Market research please take the time to fill in this short survey?
Hi my name is Zoe and I am conducting research for a video for my coursework. My video will base around fashion and more specifically alternative clothing. It will be a great help if you can fill out this survey as I want to get opinions for a wider range of people than just asking my friends etc.
1.How old are you?
Under 15 []16-20 []21-30 []31-40 []41-59 [] 60+ []
2.Are you?
Male []Female []
3.Do you live in or around London?
Yes []No []
4.How you personally define fashion?
5.Do you know what is in fashion currently?
6.What do you think is in fashion currently?
7.How would you define alternative fashion?
8.Who do you think wears alternative fashion?
9.Are you aware of Camden market as a place for alternative fashion?
Yes []No []
10.Have you ever been to Camden market?
Yes []No []
If YES to question 10 answer the following questions:
Did you enjoy it?
Yes []No []
Why
Would you go again?
Yes []No []
Why?
If NO to question 10 answer the following questions:
Would you ever consider going to Camden Market?
Yes []No []
Why?
11.Where else do you know of has alternative style clothing? (Either currently or shops from the past), and where abouts were they (if you are able to say).
12.Which of the following statements is closest to you?
I like to wear expensive brands []
I like to wear discount brands []
I like to wear casual clothing []
I like to wear alternative clothing []
13.I have worn or bought the following: (Tick all appropriate)
Jeans []
Plain trousers (solid colour, also including business trousers []
Plain T-shirts (solid colour) []
Patterned T-shirts (with some sort of picture or design) []
Other casual or designer wear []
Alternative patterned T-shirts (for example crosses, skulls etc) []
Slogan T-Shirts (with a central writing on) []
Band T-Shirts (T-shirts of a band) []
Corsets (including corset style tops and dresses with corsets) []
Tutus (including tutu styled skirts short or long) []
Chokers/gothic style necklaces []
Gothic style skirts (including layered, gothic designs []
Chains that can be attached to clothing (like on belts) []
Other alternative clothing []
14.Do you have any other comments on alternative fashion?
15.Do you have any other comments on Camden Market?
Thank you for completing this survey
1. Under 15
2. Female
3. Yes
4. A trend in the way people like to dress.
5. Kind of but I’m not a follower…
6. Abercrombie & Fitch. Preppy stuff for middle class teenagers…
7. emo/scene/punk, non-mainstream.
8. emos etc.
9. yes
10. no
Would you ever consider going to Camden Market?
Yes [x]No []
Why?
I might be able to buy clothes that differ to the ones in ‘topshop’
11.Where else do you know of has alternative style clothing? (Either currently or shops from the past), and where abouts were they (if you are able to say).
Hot Topic. Sadly, it’s in America.
and the MCR website which is hideously over-priced
12.Which of the following statements is closest to you?
I like to wear expensive brands []
I like to wear discount brands []
I like to wear casual clothing []
I like to wear alternative clothing [x]
13.I have worn or bought the following: (Tick all appropriate)
)
Jeans [x]
Plain trousers (solid colour, also including business trousers []
Plain T-shirts (solid colour) [x]
Patterned T-shirts (with some sort of picture or design) [x]
Other casual or designer wear []
Alternative patterned T-shirts (for example crosses, skulls etc) [x]
Slogan T-Shirts (with a central writing on) [x]
Band T-Shirts (T-shirts of a band) [x] (my favourite
Corsets (including corset style tops and dresses with corsets) []
Tutus (including tutu styled skirts short or long) []
Chokers/gothic style necklaces []
Gothic style skirts (including layered, gothic designs []
Chains that can be attached to clothing (like on belts) []
Other alternative clothing []
14.Do you have any other comments on alternative fashion?
I like the emo/scene style. Skinny jeans pwn! Although I think goths can take it a bit too far :l
15.Do you have any other comments on Camden Market?
does it have band-tees???/hoodies? I am in desperate need.
never been
My breast size is 32B will I be able to wear a tutu corset dress? Or are my boobs too small?
xxx
I am really upset with my boobs size, I am a 32B at 14 and I feel as if I my boobs aren’t growing :’(
Will I be able to wear a corset? Are there any bras that will make them look a little bigger and which will pull my breasts up without straps? Thanks lots
Camden/ Alternative fashion, please take the time to fill out this short survey as part of research?
Hi my name is Zoe and I am conducting research for a video for my coursework. My video will base around fashion and more specifically alternative clothing. It will be a great help if you can fill out this survey as I want to get opinions for a wider range of people than just asking my friends etc.
1.How old are you?
Under 15 []16-20 []21-30 []31-40 []41-59 [] 60+ []
2.Are you?
Male []Female []
3.Do you live in or around London?
Yes []No []
4.How you personally define fashion?
5.Do you know what is in fashion currently?
6.What do you think is in fashion currently?
7.How would you define alternative fashion?
8.Who do you think wears alternative fashion?
9.Are you aware of Camden market as a place for alternative fashion?
Yes []No []
10.Have you ever been to Camden market?
Yes []No []
If YES to question 10 answer the following questions:
Did you enjoy it?
Yes []No []
Why
Would you go again?
Yes []No []
Why?
If NO to question 10 answer the following questions:
Would you ever consider going to Camden Market?
Yes []No []
Why?
11.Where else do you know of has alternative style clothing? (Either currently or shops from the past), and where abouts were they (if you are able to say).
12.Which of the following statements is closest to you?
I like to wear expensive brands []
I like to wear discount brands []
I like to wear casual clothing []
I like to wear alternative clothing []
13.I have worn or bought the following: (Tick all appropriate)
Jeans []
Plain trousers (solid colour, also including business trousers []
Plain T-shirts (solid colour) []
Patterned T-shirts (with some sort of picture or design) []
Other casual or designer wear []
Alternative patterned T-shirts (for example crosses, skulls etc) []
Slogan T-Shirts (with a central writing on) []
Band T-Shirts (T-shirts of a band) []
Corsets (including corset style tops and dresses with corsets) []
Tutus (including tutu styled skirts short or long) []
Chokers/gothic style necklaces []
Gothic style skirts (including layered, gothic designs []
Chains that can be attached to clothing (like on belts) []
Other alternative clothing []
14.Do you have any other comments on alternative fashion?
15.Do you have any other comments on Camden Market?
Thank you for completing this survey
are corsets a form of underwear?
can someone send me a link to buy a corset that isnt underwear because i want to go to the prom with a corset and a tutu if that will look right. will it?
Corsets dont have to be underwear. Charlotte Russe sells these really cute ones for formal wear, but can actually go good with a pair of jeans for a night out. Plus they’re cheap, 20 or 30 dollars. I think you’ll look cute, just make sure the tutu isn’t see through.
I like:
http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3037500
and
http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3014719&cp=2745081.2745081.2943168&parentPage=family
Just go in there because I know they always have different styles and colors than the website.
Don’t worry about it! You would look fine haha there are some victoria secret push up bra’s that really work the charm! It basically makes you look 2 cup sizes bigger!
1. How old are you?
31-40
2. Female
3. Do you live in or around London?
Yes
4. How you personally define fashion?
The wearing of clothes in a chosen style for the look they create as opposed to the practicalities they offer such as warmth.
5. Do you know what is in fashion currently?
Yes
6. What do you think is in fashion currently?
Mid way through a mishmash 80s revival that was so colourful and embellished last year that it’s now about to turn neutral for Spring but still largely 80s.
7. How would you define alternative fashion?
A fashion style considered to deviate from the essence of what I described above, though in itself it tends to occupy a tidy conformist type of categorised alternative, such as Goth or Punk. Truly alternative clothing is rarely seen.
8. Who do you think wears alternative fashion?
Predominantly young people who believe they are defining themselves or expressing themselves uniquely by not going with the mainstream, although they usually choose one of the recognised alternatives such as Emo or Goth, a naive contradiction on their part as those avenues are actually more defined and conformist then the mainstream. They require a “uniform” in order to be identified whereas the masses do not. For example a mainstream dresser could have dyed black hair and wear a studded wrist band and still be considered mainstream, but a Goth could not have a blonde perm and thick gold chain and still be accepted as “Goth”.
9. Are you aware of Camden market as a place for alternative fashion?
Yes
10. Have you ever been to Camden market?
Yes
If YES to question 10 answer the following questions:
Did you enjoy it?
Yes
Why?
Colourful surroundings with unique shops and stalls and not just high street clothing. Also a safe haven from baseball-cap-headed banality!.
Would you go again?
Yes
Why?
For the reasons I gave above, though I would not be as enthusiastic now as I was in my teens for two reasons – I’m older, and the market is not the same as it was, it has lost a lot of its uniqueness for many reasons.
If NO to question 10 answer the following questions:
Would you ever consider going to Camden Market?
Yes [] No []
Why?
11. Where else do you know of has alternative style clothing? (Either currently or shops from the past), and where abouts were they (if you are able to say).
Brighton is the best place for that, certainly in the South of England, and Kensington Market.
12. Which of the following statements is closest to you?
I like to wear casual clothing *
I like to wear alternative clothing *
13. I have worn or bought the following: (Tick all appropriate)
I can’t tick as it’s a keyboard so a ‘*’ will have to do!.
Jeans *
Plain trousers (solid colour, also including business trousers *
Plain T-shirts (solid colour) *
Patterned T-shirts (with some sort of picture or design) *
Other casual or designer wear *
Alternative patterned T-shirts (for example crosses, skulls etc) *
Slogan T-Shirts (with a central writing on) *
Band T-Shirts (T-shirts of a band) *
Corsets (including corset style tops and dresses with corsets) (NO)
Tutus (including tutu styled skirts short or long) (NO)
Chokers/gothic style necklaces [(NO)
Gothic style skirts (including layered, gothic designs (NO)
Chains that can be attached to clothing (like on belts) *
Other alternative clothing *
14. Do you have any other comments on alternative fashion?
It doesn’t really exist to any great extent anymore as society, gender roles and the workplace do not dictate what we wear in anything like the way they used to. Also everything has been done before.
15. Do you have any other comments on Camden Market?
It’s too commercialised, it’s lost a lot of its uniqueness, for example you would get young designers showing their wares and things you could not see anywhere else, but now it’s a lot of the same kind of stuff and the prices match the High Street or above, the Camden Market bargain gems are not so easily found.
Thank you for completing this survey
You’re welcome, one of the more interesting questions on here