Yumiko Takeshima

Yumiko Takeshima, designer and founder was born in Asahikawa, Japan to parents who owned a small Kimono business, Takeshima began dancing at the age of four in Sapporo, Japan. At the age of 14 she left home to study with the San Francisco Ballet school, soon after receiving her first professional dance contract.

In 1993, Yumiko Takeshima moved from New York City to join the Dutch National Ballet, where she continued to develop her passion for designing dancewear and costumes. In early 2002 she launched YUMIKO dancewear and the YumiGirl Network.

Since 2002, Takeshima has continued to develop her made-to-order line, as well as a ready-to-wear line, of high quality, great fitting, and beautifully designed dance and activewear for women and men. In addition, since moving to Amsterdam, Netherlands, Takeshima has designed costumes for numerous choreographers, most notably David Dawson and William Forsythe and has been praised in the press not only as a dancer, but also for designing some of the most elegant, simple, and beautiful dance costumes in the European dance world.

Since Yumiko's retirement from from dance in April 2014, Yumiko has been focused on designing and developing new styles and products for the company.

The Company

Founded in 2002, Yumiko creates long-lasting, great-fitting dance and athletic wear of the highest quality. What began as a small collection of leotard designs has grown into a phenomenon that has redefined the dancewear industry. Designer and professional ballerina Yumiko Takeshima is the innovator of beloved leotard styles, and the first to enable dancers to personalize their own dancewear.

Clients can choose from a selection of pre-designed styles and customize their piece with fabrics, colors and other options such as sleeve lengths, leg cut and trim. Yumiko also offers Ready to Wear items, specific leotard collections, and an exclusive Black Label line of design leotards.

One Dance World

We are a family company with a global identity. The story behind the Yumiko brand draws on Asian, European and American influences that have helped shape our values and give us a unique perspective. We see one dance world that is connected through a shared passion. Regardless of location, that passion remains the guiding force for dancers everywhere and is at the heart of our decision-making process. It inspires us to think outside the box, and embrace ethical business practices to meet our high standards of quality.

Certifications

Yumiko was recently awarded a Platinum Certification by the Green Business Bureau, part of our ongoing efforts to increase the sustainability of our production process. You can read more about our social and environment impact on Our Impact.