New Cross Theatrical Costume Shop With £30 Styling Sessions

Prangsta Costumiers works out of a showroom at 141 Lewisham Way in New Cross, SE14 6QP, and it is the place in south-east London to hire a costume that looks handmade, because it is. Everything is designed, made and embellished in the New Cross studio by an in-house team, mostly from reclaimed materials, vintage garments and discarded accessories. The showroom is open by appointment only, and a one-hour styling session with a stylist is how every hire begins.

Prangsta was founded in New Cross in 1998, and the About page is proud that it has stayed on its South London turf ever since. Melanie, the creative director, says her starting point is usually an old discarded item that seems to ask to become the centrepiece of a new garment. That habit gives the stock its look, with bodices layered in salvaged lace and headpieces built from odd trinkets rather than shop-bought trims.

The pieces are built to be rented hundreds of times, worn by performers, hardcore partygoers and, in the studio's own phrase, mad hatters on horseback. When a garment needs major surgery it goes to the studio's crafters for an overhaul, often coming back with a new layer and more character than before. The team describes the showroom as a fantasy realm and the styling process as a kind of therapy.

The FAQ lists the specialities as burlesque, circus, fantastical creatures, the 18th century, the 1920s and jungle-inspired pieces, and says the range also covers the 19th century and the 1970s and 80s. On the fantasy side it runs from Narnia to A Midsummer Night's Dream. The looks are described as period-inspired rather than historically accurate, which suits a fringe production or an immersive evening more than a strict costume drama.

There are limits worth knowing before you book. Prangsta does not make or stock children's sizes, although part of the range fits teenagers. It will dress you as Catwoman or Poison Ivy with a twist but does not copy famous comic outfits or stock franchised versions. Props are hireable too, from binoculars, canes and toys to lavish thrones and giant bird cages.

A one-hour fitting with a personal stylist costs £30 per costume, and each additional hour is £10. The stylists build a look from existing stock to match your brief and body shape, and the website suggests sending a sharp brief and booking a few weeks ahead so the studio has time to alter the costume. If you would rather improvise, the site says you can rock up on the day and play, as long as you get in touch first.

For performers who cannot travel to SE14, a remote fitting also costs £30 per costume and can include two individual look options. The team assembles the look on a mannequin from your brief and measurements and emails photos for feedback. Before anything leaves the building, all fees must be paid and an e-signature completed.

The price list on the styling page puts full costumes with personal styling at £130 to £350 plus VAT. Individual garments and headpieces can be hired from £20 plus VAT each, and quick alterations start at £10. The standard hire period is four days, and longer hires are possible at 20% of the hire fee for each extra day.

Every hire carries a holding deposit, which the FAQ says is typically £300 and can vary with the value of the hire. The deposit does not cover the full cost of the garments, so a loss or serious damage can be charged above it. Late returns are charged too, so build the return trip into your plans before the first night rather than after the wrap party.

If the stock does not have what your production needs, Prangsta offers a make-to-hire service, subject to availability. The FAQ asks for two to three weeks for an intricate, heavily embellished piece, which is a realistic lead time for a lead character's gown or a creature with wings. Brands, agencies, venues, festivals and publications also commission whole immersive sets from the studio.

Press work on the homepage includes Nicole Kidman in Tatler and work for Hendrick's Gin. The studio also runs corset-making courses in tiers from £400 up to £800 for the Platinum tier with 16 hours of in-person support, aimed at makers who want to learn the techniques behind the hire stock.

The showroom sits on Lewisham Way, the A20, between New Cross and St Johns, and both New Cross and St Johns stations are within walking distance. The FAQ notes there is parking right in front of the showroom on Lewisham Way itself, which helps if you are collecting a full cast's costumes in one trip.

Because it is appointment only, arrive on time and with the brief, a few reference images and your measurements. A Saturday morning slot after the 10 am opening gives the most daylight for checking colours, and a weekday evening up to 7 pm suits anyone coming straight from rehearsal.

Goldsmiths, University of London, is a few minutes along Lewisham Way, and its students are a big part of the area's art and theatre scene. Climb the streets behind it to Telegraph Hill Park for one of the best free views across the city, with the towers of the City and Canary Wharf laid out to the north.

Deptford High Street, with its market stalls, pie and mash and second-hand shops, is a short walk west and is good for hunting the odd prop yourself. In the evening the pubs and music venues on New Cross Road keep the area busy after the showroom closes.

Prangsta Costumiers, 141 Lewisham Way, London SE14 6QP. The showroom is open by appointment only, Monday to Friday 11 am to 7 pm and Saturday 10 am to 6 pm. Styling sessions cost £30 per costume for one hour and £10 for each extra hour. Full costumes are £130 to £350 plus VAT for a four-day hire, and the holding deposit is typically £300.