I love people who turn their love into their living… so I had to approach Katalin Schafer when I had the opportunity.
Last March, Katalin was visiting Vancouver for workshops, and I had an opportunity to chat with her about her costume design work.
You may know Katalin as a gorgeous, talented belly dancer or a costume designer…. She is a multi-talented artist, and I must say, she is one beautiful-hearted, creative woman who has created life with what she loves!
I chatted with her at the MEDA Bazaar (an annual fun-filled 2-day belly dance event organized by the Middle Eastern Dance Association) where she had 2 of her costumes in display. The costumes I got to see in person are these:
First, I got so intrigued by the unique print of the fabrics. They are really unique, and cut perfectly. I asked her, “Do you get this fabric custom made?”
She told me that she first paints her vision on special paper (as you can see in the above photos). Then she has it printed on fabric of choice. She later told me that she can print her designs on pure silk, polyester or even lycra.
I asked how she manages all the costume orders while she’s touring in North America.
She said, over the years she developed a technique to take dancers’ measurements and create well-fitting costumes remotely for them. She has assistants in Hungary, where her home is, so they can keep all the projects going while she is traveling.
But because she loves her work so much, she may choose to do decoration or add final touches herself. So she takes her costume work along while traveling, and she shared with me a story about an airport officer giving her a hard time about carrying a huge amount of Swarovski crystals at an international airport.
I felt like I had a glimpse of a day in the life of this lovely dancer and designer. I was so inspired by her work. To me, this is haute couture of belly dance costumes… So much love and care goes into each piece Katalin creates. And she makes sure her costume factory keeps running while she’s touring and touching more dancers’ lives overseas, so that her customers can continue to enjoy her beautiful designs.
If Katalin is visiting your city, I highly recommend you go meet her. She’s such a sweet, lovely lady. Super approachable, open, and friendly 🙂
I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with her. Even though we only had 10 minutes or so at the MEDA Bazaar, I’ve been able to stay in touch with her via Facebook, and she’s really a wonderful, inspiring woman.
You can see more of her work on her SCH-Fashion Facebook page. I sometimes go there just to see the photos and enjoy her creative work 😉 Check out her latest Rainforest Collection, and her ingenious designs.
I’m hoping to feature different costume designers on Sparkly Belly. If you have a suggestion or if you’d like to be featured, please email me at mao@sparklybelly.com.
And I have many costuming tips and DIY’s planned for this summer! Sign up for Sparkly Belly newsletter to hear about them!🙂
Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling! 😀
P.S. The collaboration project with Mahin, “Your Sparkly Wardrobe Belly Dance Costume Project” has launched today over on her blog! Check out Mahin’s very, very comprehensive costume inventory technique!
Want to make more costuming bits yourself?
