Capezio: The Epitome of Dancewear and Accessories

Getting into the world of dance requires adequate equipment as much as adequate skills. What this means is, same as with any activity or sport, it comes with a set of essentials the beginner dancer has to acquire to be able to make it to dance lessons and further on-stage performances. This doesn’t only refer to training equipment but also the clothes, footwear, and accessories.

The reason for this is that the dance gear is crucial in learning the proper dance moves with the minimal risk of injuries and accidents as it’s designed for flexibility with all the needed movements and techniques. With this in mind, you require top-notch pieces that you can rely on time and time again, so instead of following the urge to pile up on the cheaper bits, investing in quality items is where success is at if you plan to excel in the dance.

One of the brands you’d certainly come across when looking for quality dance wear is Capezio. Over the years, it’s become almost synonymous with pointe shoes, leotards, tights, and unitards, so much so in fact any professional dancer knows of them or owns some of them.

They’ve even been a favourite of celebrities like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Maddie Ziegler, and even Sarah Jessica Parker in And Just Like That for obvious reasons – the designs are the perfect blends of aesthetics and function. In short, dance wouldn’t be what it is today without this brand. Let’s look into more of their story and what it is that propelled them to success.

Where is Capezio From?

The founder Salvatore Capezio was from Italy, specifically Muro, Lucano, and the company from the US. As a 17-year-old cobbler who arrived in 1887 in the city of opportunities called New York he was set to making a name for himself when he started repairing shoes for the Met. Although it was on the soil of The Big Apple that it all began, the company’s headquarters nowadays are in Totowa, New Jersey, with plants in other parts of the country, such as Maine, Florida, New Hampshire, and a custom pointe shoe factory in Manhattan.

How Did Capezio Turn Into the Brand It Is?

In particular, one case that marked Capezio in the world of shoemaking was the creation of a pair of shoes for Polish opera star Jean de Reszke that were the perfect balance of engineering and construction. Later on, Salvatore turned into the main shoemaker of the Met with his pointe shoes becoming the epitome of what perfect custom-made ballet shoes should look like. Other famous performers who swore by his iconic designs were Angelina Passone who later on became his wife and Anna Pavlova who received a special design named The Pavlova.

The following decades, specifically the 1920s and 1930s were marked by the brand’s Broadway role, and in the 1940s the brand gained recognition in the fashion world, to the point of being featured on the cover of Vogue. It wasn’t until the death of the founder and the take-over of Ben Sommers as president that this name also made its mark on dance wear with the first leotard. We have his wife, Estelle Sommers, to thank for the addition of lycra and spandex to the dance clothing items for the much-needed flexibility.

In the following decades, particularly the 1980s and 1990s, Capezio was beloved by many as their pieces starting from the shoes, leotards, and tights, all the way to the accessories like legwarmers and bags were featured on fashion mag covers and pages, like the Cosmopolitan and Elle, and on TV. Some of their most famous and beloved products, other than the custom-made pointe shoes and iconic leotards, are the arch supports and footundeez both designed for comfort, shock absorption, stability, and pressure relief.

Where Does Capezio Stand Today?

Constantly evolving and focusing on the future by making their own contribution, the brand is so much more than a brand of outstanding dancewear because they’ve recently invested in the world of athleisure as well. This was a move mainly influenced by the pandemic and post-pandemic fashion world where the focus is on comfort and flexibility. These are two aspects the company has long stood for with the iconic dancewear tights and leotards that feel like a second skin.

What we can expect from this kind of merge is new Capezio products for men, women and kids, specifically sportswear, shoes like casual sneakers, flats, slippers, flip-flops, dress shoes, and even accessories for year-round wear. In short, as always, their plan is to cater to the needs of each and every customer, their specific tastes and fit, which brings about the versatility this brand has been famous for all this time.

Despite the influence of the future, this brand is still family-owned with deeply rooted traditions and ethical practices which is why they continue to have such a significant role in the world of dance to this day. This shows why they’re so beloved by professional dancers and non-professionals alike.