"For me the Wheel of Time series on Amazon was one to watch. I had read several of the books many years ago, perhaps long enough ago to be able to just enjoy watching the series." Sarah
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The filming and costume design is an absolute treat for any one interested in leather and leathercraft. Many of the costumes use techniques such as embossing and carving, that you would recognise, but these have been pushed into new directions to create really unique pieces while still seeming authentic to the created worlds.
I promised myself if the costumes were exhibited I would try to go. This led us to a work trip to Prague, a wonderfully creative city where much of the series was filmed.
The Fashion and Fantasy Exhibition was in a glass fronted gallery next to the river. There were over 80 exhibits of the costumes and we were encouraged to touch and get close up to see how they were made.
The head of costume, Sharon Gillham, describes the collection as the merging of couture fashion with fantasy. The exquisite sewing, leatherwork, and fabrics were designed to tell the story of the wearer. With historical allusions to eras such as Tudor, medieval European and traditional Japanese dress, the designers pushed out into a fantasy creation with no holds barred.
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Rob Goodwin was the key leatherworker in the costume department, credited with creating the intricate leather components of the costumes, particularly for the Aiel Maidens of the Spear. His work was essential in solving the practical challenge of how to carry their large spears and bucklers, leading to the development of specialized holsters and quick-release panels that allowed the weapons to be anchored to the characters' backs in an aesthetically pleasing "fan" shape. His craftsmanship is also evident in other leather pieces throughout the series, including Moiraine’s iconic bolero, which features laser-cut text in Old Tongue. |
The other leatherworkers were Jana Brejchova, Anezka Tumova, Aleanza Zanon, Beatrice Shepherd,
We left the exhibition reeling with new ideas and inspiration and had to sit speechless for half an hour in an arty coffee house opposite to collect our thoughts!
We are working through our sketches and notes and will be telling the stories of some of the work in more detail over the coming months.
Take the tour for yourself... Virtual Tour
FURTHER LINKS:
| More about Wheel of Time TV Series |
| Follow Rob Goodwin on Instagram |
| Follow Fashion & Fantasy on Instragram |
| Follow Sharon Gillham Costume on Instragram |
| Read more on the costume designs |
