In this interview, costume designer Vin Burnham reflects on her fascinating career, from working at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and creating costumes for major film productions to designing for TV, theatre and global music stars. She discusses her book, Get Into Costume, the inspiration behind it and her advice for the next generation looking to break into the industry.

Tell us about your career so far

I started out as a trainee in the props department at the Royal Opera House before moving into costume doing what would now be described as Costume Effects: masks, animal costumes, wings, headdresses, decoration and costume breakdown. I became part of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop when it moved from New York to London to make the films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, and this introduced me to early Creature Effects. I was commissioned to design and build Aslan the Lion for the BBC’s Chronicles of Narnia, and this lead to my involvement in making the Batsuit for Batman and running the ‘Batshop’ for Batman Returns in Burbank. Around this time I’d been starting to design, initially on TV commercials and then on film, TV and a little bit of theatre. A particular highlight was designing the costumes for the BBC’s Wind in the Willows starring Matt Lucas as Toad. Another was being asked to design Lady Gaga’s ‘Living Dress’ for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop for the Monster Ball World Tour.

I started speaking about my work at the V&A London and at universities and museums in the UK and US whilst continuing to work on TV commercials, film, TV and photography. More recently I was asked to design the costumes for a project for Framestore London (still under wraps), and ‘Once a Princess, Always a Princess’ a short film by Disney released this summer.

What inspired you to write the book?

I’d worked with so many work experience students and trainees throughout my career, and I started writing my book in 2016, intended as a sort of handbook to help young people entering the costume profession. The idea for Get Into Costume: Design, Make and Manage for the stage and Screen (published by Bloomsbury) grew and consolidated over several years as I was looking after my parents in old age. I wanted to ask other costume professionals to contribute their perspectives to expand the book into a collaborative – which is exactly what the entertainment industry is, as it’s made up of so many different and multi-talented people. Contributors in the book include costume designers Sandy Powell CBE, Jenny Beavan OBE, Alexandra Byrne, Michele Clapton and many others.

I did a deep dive into all the different jobs there are in the costume department and I realised just how far-reaching it actually is. And, because of my background in Creature FX, I wanted to include these subjects too – everything I’d been involved with myself. But it was too much to fit into one book while keeping it affordable for students, so I am now finalising a follow up book: Get Into Costume, Creature and Makeup Effects.

Who is the book for?

My book is for anyone looking to making a career in professional costume – in any sector, role or specialism, whether they are school leavers, students, trainees and young professionals or enthusiasts, and for people wanting to transition from one field to another, or from one profession to another. The book is to help demystify the industry and to bridge the gap between education and the workplace.

What are your thoughts on the industry?

When I started out it was a much smaller industry than it is now and there was less competition. One of the purposes of my book is to help people navigate the profession now, as not only is it a much bigger industry, but a more competitive and challenging one too. In today’s landscape, budgets and schedules are tighter than ever which puts pressure on everyone working to the now ‘normal’ tight budgets and quick turnaround times. I think the new influx need as much help as they can get to understand how the profession actually works in practice.

I also wanted to emphasise that striving to work to high standards and with a good work ethic goes a very long way to getting work and building a successful career. I would advocate making a start through work experience, traineeships, internships, running and assisting and the opportunities will be there.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

There is currently a 25% discount for the book on Bloomsbury’s website using code BURNHAM25.

Many thanks to Vin Burnham for this interview.