Costume Designer

Industries:

Fashion and Textiles | Film | TV

Departments:

Costume

The lowdown

• Being in charge of designing, creating, acquiring and hiring all costumes for Actors and extras
• Managing a team of skilled personnel
• Supervising practical issues, such as departmental budgets and schedules, the organisation of running wardrobes, and costume continuity

Is this role right for me?

To do this role, you will need to:

• be creative and imaginative
• have excellent design skills
• have good communication skills
• be skilled in research
• know about costume history and modern fashion
• have good stamina
• be able to work under pressure to strict deadlines
• be highly organised
• have the confidence to motivate a team
• put others at ease (when working closely with Actors in a physical sense)
• break down scripts in terms of costume plots
• know about story structure and character arcs
• have good garment production skills and knowledge of textiles
• have a wide-ranging cultural knowledge base

What does a Costume Designer do?

Costume Designers' work helps to define the overall ‘look' of TV productions and films and their role requires a great deal of expertise. This must be achieved within strict budgets, and to tight schedules.

They work closely with the Production Designer to make sure the costumes fit in with their overall vision and work with the chosen lighting and camera angles. They also collaborate with the hair and make-up team to make sure a cohesive look is created.

During pre-production, Costume Designers break down scripts scene by scene to work out how many characters are involved and what costumes are required. They then develop costume plots for each character. Plots ensure that colours and styles do not mimic each other in the same scene, and highlight the characters' emotional journeys by varying the intensity and depth of colours.

Costume Designers must carry out research into the costume styles, designs and construction methods suitable for the time period, using resources such as libraries, museums and the Internet. They may also discuss costume and character ideas with performers.

They deliver initial ideas to Directors about the overall costume vision, character plots and original costume designs, using sketches and fabric samples. They also discuss colour palettes with the Director of Photography and Production Designer.

Costume Designers ensure that accurate financial records are kept and weekly expenditure reports are produced. They prepare overall production schedules, as well as directing the day-to-day breakdowns of responsibilities.

They choose and hire appropriate suppliers and Costume Makers, negotiating terms with them, and communicating design requirements (on a smaller-scale production a Costume Designer would be involved in both the design and the making processes).

They arrange fittings for Actors and extras. They supervise fabric research and purchase, and ensure that garments are completed to deadlines.

Depending on the numbers of costumes to be created and the scale of budgets, Costume Designers may decide to create a dedicated Costume Workshop.

They should be on set whenever a new costume is worn for the first time to make sure that performers are comfortable, to explain special features, and to oversee any alterations.

Once filming is completed, Costume Designers are responsible for the return of hired outfits, and the sale or disposal of any remaining costumes.

Costume designers may be required to work long hours; evening and weekend work may be involved when working to deadlines.

They can be based in a studio, office or home-based environment when designing and making the garments. Travel to locations for TV and film productions is common and they are often required to attend meetings at theatres or TV/film production companies.

What might I earn?

A typical starting salary for a Costume Designer may be between £13,000 and £18,000 a year, which could rise to around £28,000 a year with experience.

Senior Costume Designers with considerable experience of the industry may earn over £35,000 a year.

Will I need a qualification?

You will need an HND, degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject such as Costume Design, Fashion, Theatre Design or Performing Arts (Production).

If you are interested in film and TV you can apply for an apprenticeship-style training scheme, such as the BBC's Design Training Scheme.

You will undergo further training on the job by learning from more experienced designers.

You can also join organisations such as the Society of British Theatre Designers and the Costume Society to gain professional recognition and for networking and training opportunities. Some drama schools, such as RADA and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, offer vocational training in costume for theatre, film and television.

It is important to update your portfolio or show reel.

You can also gain practical garment production skills by taking relevant ABC, City & Guilds, NOCN or SQA courses.

As travel is often required, you will also need a full, EU driving licence.

What's the best route in?

The role of Costume Designer is not an entry-level position and you will need considerable knowledge and experience in order to design for feature films.

After gaining qualifications, you can expect to start your career as a Costume Assistant or Wardrobe Trainee before progressing through the costume department.

Alternatively, you could work for one of the large Costumiers.

You will probably need to work in theatre, film and TV until you become established and specialise in one area.

You can look for jobs in the national press, trade publications and on industry websites but competition is strong and networking and word-of-mouth is the most common route to employment.

Interested? Find out more...

Websites

• ABC Awards
• NOCN
• City & Guilds
• SQA
• The Society of British Theatre Designers
• The Costume Society
• Chartered Society of Designers
• Design Council
• UKFT
• BBC Design Trainee Scheme
• The Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)
• Equity, the performers' union, which also represents Costume Designers
• Drama UK
• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)

Sambalpuri saree

Sambalpuri Saree  is a traditional handwoven ikat saree (locally called shadhi) wherein the warp and the weft are tie-dyed before weaving. It is produced in the Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Balangir district, Boudh District of Odisha. The saree is a traditional female garment in the Indian Subcontinent consisting of a strip of un-stitched cloth ranging from four to nine meters in length that is draped over the body in various styles.

Sambalpuri sarees are known for their incorporation of traditional motifs like shankha (shell), chakra (wheel), phula (flower), all of which have deep symbolism, but the high point of these sarees is the traditional craftsmanship of the 'Bandhakala', the Tie-dye art reflected in their intricate weaves, also known as Sambalpuri "Ikkat". In this technique, the threads are first tie-dyed and later woven into a fabric, with the entire process taking many weeks. These sarees first became popular outside the state when the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi started wearing them. In the 1980s and 1990s they became popular across India. To provide protection to the weavers practicing this art, the hand loom silk sarees manufactured in Sambalpur and Berhampur (Berhampur Pattu) in Odisha were included in the Government of India’s Geographical Indications (GI) registry.
Most of them have been named after their places of origin and are popularly known as Pata. Paintings on Tussar saris depicting Mathura Vijay, Raslila and Ayodhya Vijay owe their origin to ‘Raghurajpur patta paintings’.

Fabric and design
Development

Sambalpuri fabrics reflect an original style of craft known as Baandha. Traditionally, craftsmen created Baandhas with images of flora or fauna or with geometrical patterns. More recently, new types of Baandha depicting portrait, landscape and flower pods are being designed. Baandha fabric is created using a tie-dye technique. The yarns are tied according to the desired patterns to prevent absorption of dyes, and then dyed. The yarns or set of yarns so produced is called 'Baandha'. The unique feature of this form of designing is that the designs are reflected almost identically on both side of the fabric. This versatile technique enables a craftsman to weave colorful designs, patterns and images into a fabric capable of inspiring a thought or conveying a message. Thus Baandha can be defined as "A length of systematically arranged yarn, dyed according to a preconceived design in such a manner so as to enable a weaver to portray the design when the yarn is converted to a fabric through the process of weaving". It is believed that this art migrated to Western Odisha along with the Bhulia community who fled Northern India in the year 1192 AD after the fall of the Chouhan empire at the hands of the Mughals. Since then and up to the year 1925 it flourished in Western Odisha in a limited number of designs and in vegetable colours and consisted mostly of saris used by the womenfolk of the Odisha. These saris were known as 'Bhulia-Kapta'. The demand was limited, distress sale was common and the craftsmen lived in penury.

Today the Baandha fabric is popularly known by its geographical and cultural name Sambalpuri owing to the pioneering efforts of Sri Radhashyam Meher, who brought about a radical improvement in the skills of the craftsmen and the quality of the products. Other master craftsmen who contributed to the development of Sambalpuri textiles were Padmashree Kailash Chandra Meher, Padmashree Kunja Bihari Meher, Padmashree Chatrubhuja Meher and Padmashree Krutharth Acharya. Sambalpuri textiles today include furnishing materials, dress materials and sarees in silk, cotton and mercerised cotton in a variety of colours and many different designs. Baandha craftsmen are also masters of the 'extra warp' and 'extra weft' style of designing which can be seen in almost all forms of Baandha textiles. Radhashyam Meher also produced Khadi textiles using the Baandha art.

In 1926, Radhashyam designed the first handloom to weave textiles of ninety inches width. This achievement made him the 'Parda agent' of the Government of Bihar for the production of furnishing materials. Later, after the formation of the state of Odisha, he became the 'Parda agent' of the government of Odisha. His dexterity in the Baandha art and his ability to motivate the weaving community in the region to improve their skills by providing the necessary training and incentives enabled the creation of new designs that received international fame and recognition.

Radhashyam Meher established his proprietary concern, named 'Utkal Parda Agency', at Sambalpur for the research, production and marketing of Sambalpuri textiles. Acknowledging Radhashyam Meher's unparalleled contribution to the growth and popularity of 'Baandha art', the Ministry of Textiles of the Government of India has sponsored textile exhibitions coinciding with his birth anniversary on November 20 and organised by the Director of Textiles of the Government of Odisha.

He also played an active role in the cooperative movement and organised the Meher Art Fabrics cooperative society Ltd and the Sambalpur Regional Cooperative Marketing Society Ltd. (RCMS) He was a member of the All India Handloom Board in the year 1953. Until his death he was always elected as the member of the Sambalpur Municipality.

Crazy National Costumes at the Miss Universe Pageant | Fashion Central India

Crazy National Costumes at the Miss Universe Pageant | Fashion Central India

Flattering Red Carpet 2015 Gowns

The imposing appearance of the stars is definitely supposed to be grand in real terms  of what fashion is about and what other design of attires than the formal Red Carpet 2015 Gowns can be the ideal nail downs for the media publicity.  From the Emmy awards to the, Oscars till the Jazz couture trends, the latest inclination towards a princess image with a myriad of stunning Red Carpet 2015 Gowns is all the hype with the most popular trends brought to the table.

Trailer Gowns were some of the inspiring looks in the run up on what the stars actually have to inspire you with  for your formal fashion trends. The foremost popular celebrity red carpet fashion look is that of the trailing full gowns. Yes, the Cinderella inspired thespian formal gowns in the strapless, one shoulder and plunging designs have the splendor of hues and creativity of designer invested talent to jazz up the look of the celebrities with elite gestures.

Thigh-slit A-line Red Carpet 2015 Gowns carrying a ruched top made ostentatious with a shoulder strap of fanciful pearls and beads was an amazing pull off by Beyounce who had the charm of her curves to flatter up the trend of the design all the more. Richness of fabrics has been the punch line of these styles with materials like satin, grip and chiffon really making the creative dresses all the more delightful to watch.

Sleeveless plunging necklines have been the evergreen trends that have given formal fashion some awe-inspiring outlays that can carry an ocean of smart and sassy presentations.  Lustrous fabrics like satin have been a fashionable style walked with immense grandeur with floor length ruffled hems, full A-line, Straight Drop down and many more enticingly well turned-out Red Carpet 2015 Gowns that look amazing with the bare armed-look.

Creative Gowns are the heart and soul of celebrity Red Carpet fashion  Dresses 2015    out of which the fairytale inspired formal gowns stole the limelight with their sensationally glamorous impression. Penelope is one such celebrity to site who made her grand appearance with the charm of a pastel shade bare shoulder attire the added length trailing behind is a factor that grips the vision for longer durations.  With the Red Carpet 2015 Gowns giving a full width presentation on the lower mid lengths, the tops are featuring high quality artistry to compliment the dazzling celebrity image.

Separate Gown Styles have been some of the freshest add-ups in the Red Carpet 2015 Gowns which offer majestic looks to the stars with separate attachments making a superb approach to flaunt off a sexy and perky top look followed by royal impact down below. The latest wave of celebrity maternity fashion has worked well with these trends and made their bumpy look  all the more ravishingly graceful.

Fancy Neckline Figure Hugging Gowns in tight materials like jersey are some of the hottest drift in vogue in the league of the new celebrity fashion which fully parade out the body line and dish out a sexy way to walk down the red aisle. Glittered, gemmed and sequined dramatic necklines outlines simply outshine the image with the best of combinations of hues and make them simply irresistible.

Side Flapper Designs are some of the greatest sips of inspiration for your; especially when you’re in pursuit of the best styles that can make that difference to your outlook. Merging up the popular thigh slit strapless gowns and other hot designs with added side attachments of fancy flappers in waved and ruffled designs that edge out gloriously, marks a new era were celebrity fashion rests on the pillars of immense artistry.

 Front cutout gowns yet again are some of the tantalizing likes of the celebrities from the upcoming spell of Red Carpet 2015 Gowns. Simple full sleeved gowns with a sheer front cutout make it an adept design that befits perfect stance of celebrities to go viral in terms of fashion on the red carpet.

Sheer gowns run as the catchiest and richest forms of celebrity formal attires which have the audacious impression of exposures earning the celebrities some real fashion credit in the most modern term of fashion. From the wrap around Grecian gowns to the strapped and bondage sheer gowns, the fascinating line up of Red Carpet 2015 Gowns is an irresistible collection to watch if