Costume Design. Digitization and Representation of Outfits for Theatrical Scene

Abstract

The article highlights the central role of theatrical costume as a historical tool for constructing cultural and sartorial identity through performance. It focuses on contemporary practices of digitizing and designing customized garments tailored to the specific physical characteristics of the actors who will wear them. The authors outline a workflow that begins with iconographic research to inform the initial sketches and continues through to the creation of physical prototypes in the tailor’s workshop. 3D modeling techniques, applied to both bodies and garments, make it possible to simulate the fit, refine the patterns, and ensure coherence across the entire production process. Notably, the recovery and reinterpretation of a dispersed and fragmented cultural heritage help revive the methods, knowledge, and artistic sensibilities of a profession now at risk of disappearing: that of the theatrical costume designer.