Craft Roundtables Spotlight Costume Designers Balancing Creativity and Logistics

The art of costume design for film and television becomes increasingly impressive upon closer examination. From broad decisions about color and silhouette to the finest textural nuances, skilled costume designers play a pivotal role in shaping the essence of on‑screen characters.

We highlighted this craft at IndieWire’s Craft Roundtables, where designers Sarah Evelyn (“The Beauty”), Trayce Gigi Field (“Spider-Noir”), Rudy Mance (“Love Story”), Kathleen Felix‑Hager (“Hacks” and “The Paper”), and Natasha Newman‑Thomas (“Euphoria”) joined a conversation moderated by Jim Hemphill. Together, they dissected the major and minor choices that went into some of the year’s most celebrated Emmy‑contending shows.

All panelists emphasized that their roles blend both creative artistry and practical management. They highlighted the importance of navigating time constraints and budgetary limits—tasks that are often as critical as the design itself.

“In costume design, I wish we were only designers. But we also play a major role in budgeting and labor,” said Evelyn. “I sometimes feel like, ‘Wow, I just designed for 75 seconds—amazing!’ because the bulk of my day can be devoted to logistics.”

“It’s half organization and half creativity. You need the mind to ensure everything happens when it’s supposed to,” Field added. “I love the creative side, but I’d love it if I only had to do that. Yet that’s not how it works. You must understand the budget and negotiate with producers about money. That’s part of our job.”

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