When I tell people I’m a tailor and patternmaker for film and television, they assume that means designer—which is incorrect in my case. There are many other people and positions that support the costume designer, as costume and wardrobe are complex parts of the entertainment business. I’ve witnessed their work over the years, and have been impressed with their specialized skills and work ethic. I spoke with several to find out how they landed in their career paths. Their stories are varied, their jobs sometimes less glamorous than you might imagine, and their creativity knows few, if any, bounds.

At Home in the Costume shop

As a child in the 1970s and early ’80s, I had no idea that sewing-related careers in the entertainment industry existed. In high school, I became aware of costume designers and production positions like stage managers. I liked being part of the magical backstage, behind-the-scenes world. I also liked expressing myself through clothing, and had learned to sew when I was 8 or 9. Thus, I was the person who cobbled together outfits for school productions.

Still, I never guessed that I’d end up with a 35-year career in costumes, most of them as a tailor and patternmaker for film and television—even when I double-majored at college in English and theater. The one thing I did know, as a college freshman, was that the university’s basement costume shop felt like home, and that sewing and making satisfied and stimulated part of my soul. That may sound lofty, but that’s the only way I know how to describe it.

Finding a path

Once I started to learn how to drape and flat-pattern, there was no going back. It’s my opinion that the ability to take a flat, two-dimensional thing and know…