Sci-Fi costumes are made using a variety of fabrics, and metal sheets. But what they lack is a style factor. Either they have too many metallic or textured elements on fabric look passe. A lot goes into making sci-fi costumes, especially, if the character is from the outer world. But I am going to focus on superhero sci-fi costumes in this post.
Come to think about, when it comes to making superhero costumes, its seems easy to design them given that they are made in solid colors and follow a color scheme. It is easy to add textured elements and do it oh, so subtly. But isn’t that the style in which Hollywood superhero costumes are made, using subtle elements on solid colored fabrics?
Reigning Sci-Fi Costumes In Solid Colors
The fabrics used are leather, spandex, and oh, Marvel, MCU used 3D printed fabrics and poplin in Wakanda Forever, which was a fresh change. Aren’t Marvel sci-fi costumes stunning, already? But what goes in making them. When you can use fabrics like scuba, stretch cotton, corduroy, velvet, linen, crepe, and a variety of fabrics which are durable, dye-able, and wearable, why choose fabrics which are not breathable. Most sci-fi costumes, I am assuming are not made in breathable fabrics. Isn’t that uncomfortable for the actors to wear and perform action scenes?
If I were to direct and design sci-fi, I would choose from a list of fabrics that are breathable, washable, and durable. The kind that would take wear and tear and certainly not tear easily. Convenient for actors too, isn’t it?
How About Printed Costumes From Vaishali Adwant’s Faporazee?
Yes, I, Vaishali Adwant, owner, designer Faporazee design costumes. If you look at my Redbubble shop there are umpteen options for printed motifs. Over more than a decade, Hollywood sci-fi movies have only used costumes in solid colors. How about using kitsch and printed costumes? Well, like I have already mentioned, Wakanda Forever has used 3D printed costumes, but, here I am talking about colorful prints in abstract or mandala motifs.
What if you have a mythical, sci-fi character; ever though about that? How stunning and unique would printed sci-fi costumes on lycra or fleece look? They are breathable and would look good on most character which have a lot of style and funk. Who said sci-fi characters must always be serious and not have fun. But that aspect has never been explored. Which is what I will explore through my sci-fi characters of my upcoming production, TwistyPearlProductions. But then again, if you want to use prints, here are a few ideas.
To Be Or Not To Be Embellished?
It might seem impractical to have embellishments on sci-fi costumes that have a lot of action involved. But embroidery in stunning motifs looks mesmerizing. Strangely nobody has thought about it before. But, it’s a good food for thought when it comes to creating stylish, embellished sci-fi costumes. I am not talking about floral motifs but abstract, contemporary, and offbeat motifs in embroidered embellishments. They would look out of the world and bring about a unique style in sci-fi costumes.
Metallic Shoulder Pads, Are So Passe?
A sci-fi costume without metallic shoulder pads could probably be unimaginable. That is because those are some of the important aspects of sci-fi costumes. But we can change that and it’s time change is needed. For how long are you going to follow a template of making stereotypical sci-fi costumes anyway? Let go of shoulder pads and metallic elements and think more in terms of patterns and motifs.
There is a humongous variety of sci-fi designs waiting to happen without metallic elements and shoulder pads. You have to contact Vaishali Adwant on 9703695223 or mail to faporazee@gmail.com to get a wearable, innovative sci-fi costume without metallic elements or the shoulder pads.
