Curtain falls on Costume Cave
When Costume Cave owner Kate Railton-Jacks was a young photographer, she opened the Yellow Pages, looking for a job.
As a creative young woman with an interest in stage costuming and design, the Costume Cave seemed like a natural fit.
After speaking with the Cave’s owner, Sharron Matthews, Railton-Jacks was soon offered a job. She eventually went on to buy the business.
However, after 33 years, the Costume Cave will soon be closing – shutting its doors for good at the end of May, Railton-Jacks said.
From today, the Costume Cave will be running a closing down sale – allowing customers to full up a bag and take it home, with prices ranging from $20 (a small supermarket bag) to $100 (a large laundry bag).
Railton-Jacks said the Costume Cave had been a huge part of her life for a long time. Its closing had brought about a “rollercoaster” of emotions.
“I just feel incredibly privileged that we’ve been part of such an amazing creative community for such a long time.”
There were a number of reasons for closing; the main being financial, due to the changing nature of costume hire, events, theatre, and film communities in general.
“Also, you know, we have been doing this for a very long time.”
Matthews had started the business, not just as a way to support herself as a single mother, but to help the creative community, Railton-Jacks said. She had always tried to carry on that ethos.
“I’ve always thought that the cave is more than just the business, it’s like a little whānau, a sort of support, a platform.”
News the Cave was closing down had brought in numerous people, many of whom had shared their amazing costume cave stories with her, which had been “quite emotional”, she said.
Many of the costumes had been donated, or created by previous staff members– including a penguin outfit this reporter tried on for the video you can watch at thepost.co.nz
During its 33 years of existence, the Costume Cave had seen some celebrities come through its doors, Railton-Jacks said, including Elijah Wood and Liv Tyler during the filming of Lord of the Rings.
Wood had been wearing a “fabulous” crocheted white jump suit, she said.
What We Do In the Shadows, written, directed, and starring Taika Waititi and
Jemaine Clement, had used costumes from The Costume Cave, as did other Kiwi films.
Railton-Jacks said the sale was seeing costumes fly out the window, with the ever popular Larry the Lobster quickly sold.
Whatever clothing is left over will be donated to film and theatre companies, alongside interested charities, so “the story and the memories can live on”.
“Then other people can come and hopefully carry the flame through.”