Costumiers

Costumiers are professionals who prepare and manage the clothing and costumes used in performances, productions, and period contexts. In a theatre, film, or television company, the costumiers occupy the wardrobe department, working under or with the costume designer to realize the visual concept through garments. The role encompasses acquisition, construction, alteration, and maintenance of costumes, as well as fitting performers, tracking continuity, and coordinating with hair, makeup, and props departments. They may supervise assistants, seamstresses, patternmakers, and dressers, and they oversee storage, cataloging, laundering, and repairs.

In theatre, costumiers often build or rent wardrobes for large casts and maintain stock for repeated performances. In film and television, the wardrobe department may divide labor among costume designers, supervisors, and buyers; costumiers may focus on fabrication, sourcing, and wardrobe supervision on set, ensuring outfits suit lighting and continuity across takes. They also handle fittings, fabric selection, and period accuracy for historical pieces.

Training typically includes studies in fashion, textiles, and sewing, with practical experience in costume construction, alterations, and wardrobe management. Many positions are structured through unions or guilds and supplemented by apprenticeships or formal education. Contexts include stage productions, cinema, television, opera, and sometimes museums or historical reenactments. The term costumier is often used in Europe to describe a wardrobe professional who designs, builds, or manages costumes, while in some regions costume designer may be used for the artistic lead.