Bloch (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dancewear, footwear, fashion |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Founder | Jacob Bloch |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia, Europe, United States |
| Products | Pointe shoes, ballet slippers, jazz shoes, character and tap shoes, ballroom footwear, dance sneakers, barre shoes, fashion flats, dance costumes, dance apparel, gymnastics outfits, activewear |
Bloch is an Australian company specializing in the production of pointe shoes, various dance footwear, dance costumes, and dance-related fashion accessories.
History
The business was established in 1932 by Jacob Bloch, a Lithuanian-born cobbler who had emigrated to Australia. It originated in a workshop located in Paddington, Sydney, after Bloch observed a ballet dancer struggling with her pointe shoes and offered to enhance their design. He subsequently created custom ballet shoes for distinguished performers such as Tamara Toumanova, David Lichine, and Helene Kirsova. As interest in his products increased, Bloch expanded its distribution throughout Australia.
Today, the brand's offerings have grown to include dancewear as well as casual street clothing and accessories. The company’s main office continues to be based in Sydney, with an additional European branch situated in London. Bloch maintains one flagship store alongside 14 retail locations across Australia, and also operates stores in major cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Warsaw, and New York. Sales are further supported by independent retail partners.
Products
Bloch manufactures a broad range of dance footwear encompassing pointe shoes, ballet slippers, jazz shoes, character and tap shoes, ballroom footwear, dance sneakers, barre shoes, and fashion flats. Their product range also extends to comprehensive dance apparel lines, gymnastics outfits, and activewear collections.
In January 2024, Bloch broadened its market scope by acquiring RP Collection (previously known as Russian Pointe).
Pointe shoe manufacturing
The company utilizes the turnshoe technique for producing its pointe shoes. These shoes feature three distinct paste types within the box: "paste A," a resilient and heat-resistant formula designed for durability under humid conditions; "paste B," a softer paste that quickly adapts to the foot’s shape but has a shorter lifespan; and "TMT" (Thermo-Morph Technology), a heat-sensitive paste enabling personalized fitting through the application of controlled hot air.