Costumières & Cie: From thread to needle – building sustainable governance

The Costumières & Cie association, founded in 2013, maintains a network of  costume designers in Switzerland, promoting the preservation and development of this profession with the help of work tools, exchanges and a costume collection.

As part of the project, the expanded board of the association, consisting of nine women, will be guided through a process of collective transformation in governance. During the 2025/2026 season, a facilitator will support this process, with a two-day strategy workshop serving as a key event during this period. All in all, the projects aims to create a model adapted to the realities of today: rapid growth, diversification of activities and new partnerships.

In addition to organizational goals, the project also pursues a social and political mission, namely strengthening self-management skills without exhausting those involved. By clearly defining responsibilities and developing new, fairer forms of engagement, the project seeks to establish a sustainable and equitable working culture.

Furthermore, the association is specifically committed to advocating for the rights of costume designers, seamstresses, and dressers – professions that often operate behind the scenes and receive little recognition. The main goal is: «Standing strong together.»