First Scene Costumes costume manager Jacqui Whall travelled from Auckland to South Dunedin to buy costumes from the defunct Mayfair Costume Hire yesterday.
‘‘I wouldn't normally come to Dunedin to look at a closing-down costume hire, but because it's attached to the Dunedin Opera Company and has such a long history, I suspect there may be some treasures.''
The bounty was abundant.
She filled five ‘‘massive'' bags to take home on the plane with her last night and the remaining items would be sent to her in Auckland.
The best finds were long leather boots and good-quality Victorian clothing.
First Scene Costumes in Avondale owned about 700,000 costume items and employed 25 staff, she said.
Costume shops in Auckland were ‘‘taking a beating'' from the online shops selling cheap costumes, but First Scene Costumes was bucking the trend.
The business built its stock after obtaining the ‘‘old TVNZ wardrobe'', including clothing from television show Xena: Warrior Princess, costumes unavailable for hire anywhere else.
Dunedin Opera Company treasurer Peter Russell said he invited several organisations across New Zealand - a mix of retro clothing shops, film companies, costume hire shops, schools and theatre companies - to buy costumes.
‘‘I've had a huge response ... There's a lot of action.''
The keen groups were given hour slots to buy on February 19 and 20.
The remaining stock would be on sale to the public on February 21.
He assured the public there would be plenty of costumes left.
‘‘There is still a hell of a lot of stock ... I'm finding new stuff all the time.''