CDG - The Costume Designer

ou can always see in a person's eyes when they look at you with genuine kindness and respect. There is an authenticity to Kym. Positive representation matters. Heroes are im- portant. Asians have an abundance of charm, charisma, intelligence, courage, dignity, humor, talent, and everything in between, and many of which have been poorly depicted in the history of cinema. Shang-Chi is more than a fi lm, and will mean so much to people of Asian heritage. Heroes are important. When Chadwick Bose- man became Black Panther, that was more than a role. He became a hero and positive representative for his community. When we see Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, he will very much become the same. Heroes have the ability to inspire and help sustain positive emotional health within their communities. I can't wait for the whole world to see Shang-Chi. For specifi c characters, Barrett considered their background and chose clothes that would re ect their individuality. "Wenwu Tony Leung has been alive for millennia and has learned every possi- ble type of fi ghting." He is largely presented in blacks and whites to illustrate his power and authority. When in "civilian" clothes, he is impeccable. "We used Dennis Kim in Los Angeles for most of Tony Leung's suits. Tailoring is one of our most endangered skills. There's no structure for interns or anyone to learn from the mas- ters, which is a big problem." "We have really great, strong female characters, Jiang an Michelle eoh and Katy Awkwafi na," Barrett enthuses. In many ways, the female cast embodies the costumes of the fi lm from esoteric to grounded. "Of course, Michelle is very relaxed and a consummate professional. Her character lives apart from the modern world, so she's got her own style that is conducive to battle." In contrast, Katy is rooted in the real world, and she gives the audience a path into the more fantastical elements of the movie. "Katy is a very bright light in the story. She keeps it mov- ing along at a pace with joy and energy. I've tried to give her costumes that are comfortable, and emphasize style over fashion. It's a mix of recycled and young designers to show her personality." Costume designers use clothing as a window into iden- tity, and Kym Barret uses that language with virtuoso eff ect leaving the collective subconscious with unfor- gettable people, despite their sometimes mythic status. If Barrett's easygoing personality and relaxed demeanor make this seem simpleit isn't. From ideation to imple- mentation, collaboration to construction, she makes charac- ters audiences resonate with and remember. Ea fi a p n y ci ir r g t ski . It w imp• t• t - € t p‚ ns ƒ c„ • s … † ‡ ˆ s e o ‹ vir Ž t." Photo: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel Studios Photo: Kym Barrett Photo: Kym Barrett Darell Fuentes 26 THE COSTUME DESIGNER | FALL 2021

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