Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542297
28 SPRING 2026 Costume Buyers & Shoppers By Erin Wenrick Acquisition Experts W hen you imagine what a Costume Department looks like, you can visualize Set Costumers taking care of actors on set, you see the Designer and Supervisor going over the upcoming work for the next day, you see the Custom Made Costumers making speedy alterations or building something totally new. But what does the typical day look like for our Costume Buyers and Shoppers? You might see them in Downtown LA hunting down the perfect fabrics for a made-to-order production. They can be seen in rental houses pulling period clothing for the next big historical series. They are driving to every mall from the Valley to the South Bay, trying to source multiples for an upcoming stunt. They are out in the world, finding those hard-to-find pieces, those one-of-a-kind items that will make the lead actor's costume complete. We sat down several weeks ago with the members of Local 705's newest organizing effort, the Shopper Support Commiee, and discussed what it takes to work as a Costume Shopper or Buyer in the motion picture industry and their internal organizing efforts.