Importance of costume designing:

Costume is one of the main element and basic platform for a play or movie or show. The success of a play or movie or show is also mainly depends on well-balanced and matching costume. Costume is not about richness, goodness or something but it is about the right and suitable costume. It should reflect the real life situation and should match to the character or story. It should attract the audience and create interest. The rhythm should be maintained in the costumes of all characters in the play or movie or show. Costume design plays an important role in movie songs. Here the costume designer has more freedom in his/her creativeness depends on the nature of the song. An unmatched, improper or poor costume will create less interest, boredom, vagueness etc., among the audience. Sometimes a well attracted costume may become a fashion or trendsetter and this has happened many times not only in India but also in many other countries.

Scope of costume designing:

Costume designing has very huge scope in the following areas:

• Movie Industry
• TV shows and programmes
• Drama serials
• Live shows
• Advertising industry

As mentioned earlier, the dynamic growth of television media, cine media, technology etc., has lead to budding of more number of TV channels and making of increased number of movies either nationally or regionally, consequently this creates the platform for more number of programmes, shows, drama serials and also more number of advertising. Advertising whether it is in tele-media or printed media need costumes, so there is a good scope for costume designing in advertising industry also.

The challenges:

Costume designing is a challenging and target oriented profession. It consists of different level of challenges.

1. The time for costume designing is limited. Need to be finished within the prescribed time.
2. It may involve more number of costumes depends on the nature of story or play-many artists/ characters, many scenes, many songs etc.,
3. Besides more number it may also include different varied sizes.
4. The need for the knowledge of different cultures, races, religion, history, places, rituals, beliefs, values etc.,
5. As there is a need to interact with many people in costume designing, the knowledge about the psychology of people is much needed.
6. Sourcing of raw materials and accessories for different type of costumes.
7. Need to keep the spare costume or excess quantity of costume as it may be needed.
8. The costumes should be maintained properly and enough care should be taken till to the required time.
9. The costumes should be made available at the right time.
10. It is required to work under high pressure and volatile environment.

Functions of a costume designer:

The various functions of a costume designer are as follows:

1. Discussing and understanding the story clearly and its related information like location, characters, actors, time etc.,
2. Planning the total costumes required-total actors, no. of costume per actors, extra quantity etc.,
3. Preparing the budgets for costumes.
4. Designing the costumes using themes, designs, colour, fabric etc.,
5. Getting approvals for the costumes.
6. Sourcing of raw materials, accessories etc., for the costumes.
7. Selection of suppliers and vendors for making the costumes.
8. Negotiation for various terms and condition.
9. Making follow up and procuring the costumes.