22/05/2026
Part 1 of 2. 🤎
After an incredibly difficult period of reflection, and after trying everything we possibly could, we have made the heartbreaking decision to close Shades Dancewear.
After this Friday, 22nd May, the Shades Dancewear website will no longer be accessible, although some stock will still be available through other dance platforms and retailers.
This decision has not been made lightly, and we are truly heartbroken. Running a small business is never easy, and behind the scenes there have been challenges that many people never see. We fought for Shades, our mission, and our shared belief that everybody deserves to feel represented, with everything we had. We explored every avenue, listened to endless advice, adapted, sacrificed, and held on for as long as we could. We poured everything into keeping this dream alive—financially, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Alongside the usual challenges small businesses face, we also had to navigate outdated attitudes and experiences rooted in racism and discrimination. These experiences take a real toll, and we hope they are issues that no longer exist in the future.
Despite everything we have faced, what we will carry with us most is the love and support from the community we worked so hard to build. To every single person who supported us, shared our work, recommended us, showed kindness, and believed in us—thank you. The community we built means more to us than words can express, and we will forever be immensely grateful.
This ending is devastating, but it does not erase everything we achieved. We are proud that we created something meaningful, and proud that we built a space people connected with. Although this chapter is coming to a painful end, we will always look back on what we created with pride, love, and deep gratitude, and we hope you do too.
