Jo Hooper has been the keeper of Party People’s store of costumes for years, but she’s about to hand on the job to someone else. Photo Sue NewmanJo Hooper’s wardrobe is one to envy.

It covers dozens of hanging rails and contains thousands of garments, some worn often, others rarely, but all are well loved and well cared for.

Unlike most wardrobes this one has been cared for by her family for decades, from mother to daughter, but finally, her family is calling time on caring for other people’s clothes as Hooper hands over the reins as boss of Ashburton’s Party People clothing store.

For 10 years she’s been the person who could meet every request for a fancy dress outfit, who could find a one-off garment hidden in a dusty corner.

She knows who’s hired what, when it should be returned and if it hasn’t been returned, she knows where to go looking.

Add to that an earlier three-year stint in the wardrobe store and Hooper reckons it’s time to step back.

“I’m here every time Party People is open and it’s my job to keep track of everything and to make sure everything is clean and ironed,” she said.

She’s supported by a team of volunteers.

Mum Yvonne Harrison is her right-hand seamstress, mending whatever needs mending and long-time Variety Theatre wardrobe supporter Nancy Winter, at 91, still pops in regularly to do the ironing.

In many ways the huge clothing store is a place of dreams and untold stories, Hooper said.

Many of the garments come when people clean out homes of elderly people and donations always bring surprises.

The wardrobe’s origins go back to the earlier days of the Ashburton Operatic Society when costumes had to be created for every show.

Sometimes those were made from scratch but as often they were a remake or reuse of something already in storage.

Today many shows come as a complete package with costumes included that only need adjustments made to fit the cast.

From the huge stocks of accumulated costumes, Party People was born and has now become a business in its own right with its huge clothing stocks in constant demand for parties and theme events.

Clothing that is rarely hired is often sold and a $5 rack sits at the front of the shop.

Just because she’s stepping away from running the costume hire business, Hooper admitted she won’t be bowing out completely from under the Variety Theatre umbrella. She and her mother will still be part of the wider crew.

When you’ve been part of the team since 1993, when she started out as a raffle ticket seller before graduating to backstage assistant during shows and year round costume hirer, it’s difficult to walk away, Hooper said.

She was recognised for her contribution at the Variety Theatre annual meeting when she was presented with a merit award.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 9 December 2019