playwright: Lynn Nottage
Director: Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates
Costume Design: KT Farmer
Scenic Design: Tomya Pryor
Lighting Design: Austin Harber
Photography: Aaron Sutten
Honorable Mention recipient of SETC’s 2022 Undergrad Costume Design Competition.
“Intimate Apparel” by Lynn Nottage is a love story written of not just the love between a man and woman, but a woman and her craft as an artist. As a fellow seamstress and romantic, this story immediately became very near and dear to my heart. I greatly relate to the story of Esther Mills.
Set in 1905 New York, historical accuracy was an extremely important to me when it came to telling the story of these characters, especially ones who come from different racial, religious, and economic backgrounds than I. With this in mind, I wanted to help the characters come to life through textures, shapes, trims, and muted, warm colors.
For example, Esther is plain but elegant with a motif of stripes that follow her throughout the show. She is warm browns and light oranges, with soft silks and textured wools. Mr. Marks on the other hand, is a kind, awkward, and deeply religious man. I wanted to show his character through a round, softer silhouette with smooth black wool and a warm blue and white floral for the smoking jacket that eventually comes into his possession at the end of the play. Everything was calculated for every character’s personalities and livelihoods, down to the buttons and threads, just as Esther would do.
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