How Friedmans Supported the Royal Ballet School x Freed of London Centenary Dancewear Collection
By Friedmans, 13 April 2026
When heritage, craftsmanship and performance come together, exceptional results follow. That’s exactly what happened with the collaboration between The Royal Ballet School and Freed of London and we’re proud that Friedmans played a key role behind the scenes.
A landmark collaboration in British dancewear
To celebrate 100 years of excellence, The Royal Ballet School partnered with Freed of London to create a limited-edition centenary dancewear collection. This collection reflects a shared commitment to quality, performance and tradition, combining elegant design with the technical precision required by today’s dancers.
Designed for performance, built on expertise
The collection features a curated range of leotards, skirts and accessories, all engineered to support movement at the highest level. Each garment has been developed through extensive testing to ensure:
• Maximum comfort and flexibility
• Long-lasting durability
• A flawless fit in motion
But behind every high-performance garment is one critical component: the fabric.
Engineered for dancers: Life Power Recycled fabric
At the core of the collection is Friedmans’ Life Power Recycled fabric, a premium techno-fabric designed specifically for performance apparel. Made using ECONYL® regenerated nylon, this fabric combines sustainability with elite functionality. It offers:
• High muscular compression to support performance and reduce fatigue
• Excellent recovery power for shape retention
• Four-way stretch for unrestricted movement
• Breathable, soft-touch comfort against the skin
This unique balance of compression and comfort helps support energy recovery during movement, making it ideal for the physical demands of ballet. In addition, the fabric delivers:
• UV protection and resistance to sun cream and oils
• Ultra-chlorine resistance for longevity
• Durable, pilling-resistant construction
For a collection celebrating legacy and performance, this level of fabric innovation was essential.
Precision printing on Alicante Net
Alongside the base fabrics, select designs within the collection were enhanced using Friedmans’ Alicante Net, a specialist stretch net widely used as a print base for performance and fashion applications.
As part of our digital textile printing capabilities, Alicante Net provides:
• A lightweight, breathable structure
• Excellent print clarity and colour vibrancy
• Stretch compatibility for dancewear applications
Its versatility makes it ideal for layering, detailing and printed elements, allowing designers to introduce visual depth without compromising movement or comfort. Combined with Friedmans’ UK-based digital printing expertise, this ensured that every printed element met the same high standards as the garments themselves.
Supporting sustainable innovation in dancewear
Sustainability was a key focus of the project, and Friedmans’ fabric solutions aligned closely with this goal.
Life Power Recycled fabric is produced using regenerated materials, transforming waste into high-performance textiles without compromising on quality or durability.
This approach supports:
• Reduced environmental impact
• Circular textile production
• Long-lasting garment performance
For brands like Freed of London and institutions like The Royal Ballet School, this represents the future of responsible dancewear.
British manufacturing at its finest
Every garment in the collection is handcrafted in the UK, combining Freed of London’s heritage craftsmanship with advanced textile innovation.
By working with specialist suppliers like Friedmans, the project highlights the strength of British manufacturing and textile expertise, from fabric development through to final production. A collaborative approach to performance apparel
This project is a strong example of how collaboration across design, manufacturing and textile supply can deliver exceptional results.
Friedmans worked closely with Freed of London to ensure:
• The right fabrics were selected for each garment
• Performance requirements were met at every stage
• Sustainability goals were fully supported
The result is a collection that performs as beautifully as it looks.
Looking ahead: the future of performance fabrics
As dancewear continues to evolve, the demand for technical, sustainable and print-ready fabrics is only increasing.
At Friedmans, we continue to invest in:
• Innovative recycled fabric developments
• Advanced digital textile printing
• Specialist stretch and performance materials
Projects like this demonstrate how the right fabric choices can elevate a collection, supporting both performance and design without compromise.
Looking to develop your next performance collection?
Whether you’re creating dancewear, activewear or fashion-led performance garments, Friedmans offers:
• High-performance recycled fabrics
• Specialist print bases like Alicante Net
• Bespoke digital textile printing
• Expert technical support
Get in touch with our team to discuss your next project → Here
