She made history as the first Black woman to win an Oscar Award for costume design — and she did it twice. Ruth E. Carter is the visionary behind the unforgettable costumes of Black Panther, Malcolm X, and Do the Right Thing. This week, she’s joining Mercedes and Anastasia for an inspiring conversation about changing your path (initially, Ruth wanted to be a teacher!), resilience, and telling powerful stories through design.
Ruth gets deep about:
- How she got started in costume design and found the courage to change her career path.
- The skills every great costume designer needs + how she blends history, fantasy, and modern trends into her work.
- Her top tips for collaboration, handling criticism, and staying inspired on big projects.
- Behind-the-scenes stories from Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!
- Advice for getting your creativity back.
Whether you dream of a creative career or simply want to hear from one of Hollywood’s most trailblazing artists, this episode will leave you feeling braver, bolder, and ready to design your own path.
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Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with 4x Oscar-winning Costume Designer, Catherine Martin. In this episode, Catherine unveils her hacks for a happy lifestyle, work-life balance, and her guide to feeling more confident: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0U5IjZZnu6KzYSVbkWP9Vw?si=hnzcLPFOTZy5M4mpL9la-g
(00:00) Intro
(02:42) How Ruth Got Started
(05:56) How Ruth Switched Life Trajectories
(09:22) Want To Make A Life Change? Do THIS First!
(10:15) What Are The Most Important Skills In Costume Design?
(13:00) Ruth On Mentorship
(16:25) The Lesson Ruth Wished She Had Learned Earlier
(20:46) How Does Ruth Blend History & Trends In Her Designs?
(27:48) Ruth's Top Tips For Collaboration
(31:55) How Can I Handle Criticism?
(37:18) Looking To The FUTURE Of Costume Design (AI, 3D Printing, And Beyond)
(42:30) How Can I Get Out of A Creative Slump?
(45:39) Behind The Scenes: Ruth's Most Challenging Costume
(48:17) Ruth's Most Memorable/Crazy Moment On SET!
(52:50) Ruth To Her Teen Self
(54:40) What Brings Ruth A Small Bit of Happiness?
(56:20) Ruth's Motivational Quote
(58:40) Key Takeaways
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