I am a costume designer and maker, with experience working in theatre and dance. This year I chose to design and make for a hip-hop/ballet adaptation of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” by C.S.Lewis.
To inform my design work, I researched various themes surrounding the book, including good vs. evil, Christianity, escapism and hip-hop. Researching the history and culture surrounding hip-hop was very useful; I began to understand the huge influence it had on fashion throughout the late 20th century and was able to feed that into my design work for the Characters of Maugrim, Tumnus and Aslan.
For Maugrim’s costume I drew inspiration from military-wear to depict him as a soldier, whilst still keeping his animal qualities, such as the “fur” trousers, ears and tail. Similarly, for The White Witch’s costume, I researched armour and battle wear, in order to add a warrior-like flare to her costume.
During the making process, I continued to make informed design choices in response to design interpretation as well as restrictions that were in place. I feel I have improved a lot as a maker; working in such unusual circumstances has helped me to push boundaries and grow in my confidence.
