It’s Black History Month. The perfect planned timing for the release of the Blockbuster movie “The Black Panther.”
I have to admit I haven’t seen the movie yet but after reading NPR’s interview, I’m even more excited to see it just knowing that the Costume Designer, Ruth Carter, “pulled colors, shapes, jewelry, and textures from tribes all over Africa.”
If you’ve been reading my newsletters and/or you’ve worked with me, you know I am always saying that your style makes a statement about who you are.
In response to Ms. Carter’s above statement, I couldn’t agree with her more.
Although the Black Panther suit worn by Chadwick Boseman, who plays T’Challa, was created by Marvel character designer Ryan Meinerding, the triangular surface pattern of the fabric was Ms. Carter’s idea.
“That triangle is the sacred geometry of Africa,” Carter says. “I call that pattern the ‘Okavango’ pattern. I felt that it made his suit have this character that would, in the wide shots, make him this superhero but in the close-up, you see this beautiful pattern that is consistent with a lot of the art of Africa and would turn him into this African king.”
When Ms. Carter began to design the costumes for the movie, she knew that the costumes needed to evoke an African country that had never been colonized, one that looked toward the future but was based on a real past. So she scoured the continent in search of African art and craft, and indigenous tribal wear as her inspiration for the costumes.
The Dora Milaje, the King of Wakanda’s elite team of female warriors, wear costumes in bright red, a color that comes from those tribes in Kenya. The leather harnesses were woven together with big heavy stitches, just like the South African leather-smiths. Their tabards feature intricate beading, a nod to the beadwork found throughout Africa. And like the Black Panther suit with the triangular surface pattern, the motif of the tights worn by these female warriors, are the same triangular pattern.
I think the costumes are stunning and I can’t wait to see them on the big screen!
Of course, after reading all about the “sacred geometry” I was so intrigued by the storyline that I was inspired to search the net for pieces, wearable pieces, that the fashion world was showing – their version of “sacred geometry.” These are a few that I found that thrilled me.
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Now, it’s your turn. I’d love to hear from you. Your insights and inspiration are appreciated so please share your stories in the comments below.
If you have a question also post it in the comment section below. I check it daily. Since the topic is always about fashion or style no question that you ask will be “off Topic.”
That means as far as I’m concerned when you ask a question that is the topic. Everyone else who’s reading it can follow up on my answer. There will be no questions that you ask that will be too far off topic because your question will be the current topic. So…ask away!
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Blog me.
Love,
~Michelle
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