Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1536052
MOTIONPICTUREC O S T U M E R S .O R G 7 donate them to EcoSet, a warehouse providing environmental services to productions. If they're dirty, we send them to laundry. Anything that's super costume-y will be donated to theater programs. If they're really really bad, we have a system set up with Threads, which recycles textiles into insulation and other products. We're really minimizing waste," Velosa explained as she assigned me to help hang up the boxes and boxes of Anine Bing donations. I spent hours in the sun pinning up skirts and pants, explaining to my fellow non- costumer volunteers the importance of hanging everything up in the same direction, so that when a shopper is quickly flipping through a rack of clothes, they always see the front of the garment. After the clothes were hung and curated, they moved over to the sizing department, where Specialty Costume Manufacturer Ricardo Vivas was busy at work. "When the fires happened, I wanted to do my part. My first instinct to give back is always through clothing because I have an PHOTOS: COSTUME DESIGNERS GUILD abundance of it. I save it for times of need, and I'll think about who it should go to. There might be a shirt I'm saving for my cousin. There's also clothing I always donate to a teen shelter for Latino youth in East LA." He looked around at the clothes he was sizing. "There's some really nice stuff here. I saw some really cool graphic tees, things that you see at flea markets that are sold for a lot of money, and a lot of nice jeans. People deserve to have nice things." After sizing, the clothing was then taken to the sorting department where Finished Costumer Jordan Fell was separating items into men's, women's, children's, and then sub-categories of pants, jeans, skirts, T-shirts, polo shirts, dresses— anything that would help a shopper find the things that they want or need. "I'm from outside of New Orleans," she explained, "so when the fires hit, the Hurricane Katrina flashbacks came quickly. In Louisiana, we have the 'Cajun Navy' which is made up of men with boats who show up and offer aid and food to flooded areas. I've seen the power of that mutual aid, and it feels good to jump in for my community." Once the clothes were sorted, they were moved into the showroom based on what was needed. Over time, shoppers initially comprised of union members and families, and eventually, including the general public, trickled in to rifle through the racks of clothes that were free to any fire victim. Some would only take a few pieces, promising to come back later. They hadn't yet figured out a permanent housing situation and could only take what could fit into bags or suitcases. "The hardest thing was when people I knew came in who had lost their houses," Custom Made Costumer and Assistant Costume Designer David Matwijkow said. "It was wonderful to be of service, but so, so sad." Matwijkow had jumped in to volunteer when the CDG first announced that they were hosting the clothing drive and was part of the planning and organizing process throughout. "'It unfolded' more so than 'it got IATSE members loading a truck with donations.