Traditionally, ballet tights and shoes were pink or “nude” (meaning, here, light beige) to match a dancer’s skintone, as the majority of dancers were white, but with increasing numbers of dancers of color taking up ballet, the need for a broader range of nude shades was highlighted. Some brands, like Freed, began designing with these Black and brown performers in mind.
Royal Ballet dancers visit the Freed factory to see how their pointe shoes are made:
