Fulfil your costume fantasy on Peel Street

THE modest hall on the edge of Peel Street Park houses a cornucopia of costumes.

This Aladdin’s cave, filled to overflowing, with silks, satins, sequins, furs, frills and multi coloured wigs, in fact everything needed to dress up, is the home of BLOC Costume Hire, offering over 6000 costumes for hire to the general public.

BLOC has been lucky enough to have had an incredibly talented and passionate voluntary-run costume department since the 1960s.

“The volunteer hours are incalculable, but we all love it,” said seamstress Linda Blake.

“Gwen Quick is a legend, she washes and irons all the hired garments upon return, and we have both been volunteering here since 1988. We are here Monday and Thursday from 12pm until 8pm having fun with our customers helping them look the part.

“Apart from garments we have a huge range of wigs which we wash, set and style and all sorts of accessories from tiaras to swords to masks and hats.”

Eighty per cent of the costume business is hiring out show lots, all the necessary costumes for a theatrical performance, said Mrs Quick.

Nicole Burness, drama teacher at Damascus College said the school has had a very long running partnership with BLOC hiring show lots for their annual student productions.

“They have always been very supportive, they are just amazing,” Ms Burness said. “They can outfit everybody, regardless of whether it is for a big show or a kid’s book day.”

Damascus also hires props and sets from BLOC’s enormous facility at Sebastopol.

“They are my go-to place,” she said.

The local community continually donate vintage clothing, accessories and props, resulting in a diverse range of treasures on offer to the public or to the performing arts community.

The business has expanded over the years and in keeping with public demand now includes a line of licensed costumes from Star Wars heroes to Toy Story characters.

Mrs Quick said 95 per cent of the time they can kit out anyone with the right costume because of the number of garments and accessories they have in stock.

“The decades of the 1920s and the 50s through to the 70s are the most popular for costumes,” she said. “For $30 per hire we can dress our customers in an outfit that fulfils their dream, but it does help when they have a picture of what they want to look like.”