The Feather
written and directed by
Elliana Bertrand, Joyce Hills, Chris Smith, Christina Wang, James Watson, and Ziyi Zhang
Set in Viking-Age Scandanavia, The Feather provided a unique opportunity to incorporate archaeological research into the design and construction process.
Because this film combined history and mythology, I had the exciting chance to flex both my imagination and my skills in historical reconstruction. The historical scenes allowed me to hand sew three garments based on extant patterns for the female lead, and source period-accurate outfits for the male lead. In order to be budget conscious, the handmade outfits were largely comprised with fabric I had on hand; although the fiber content was far from period accurate, I felt the color and movement of the cloth was true to both the character and the period. Meanwhile, the magical scenes allowed magical thinking for the look of the female protagonist -- less concerned with a historical silhouette, I got to create a beautiful, ethereal gown that reflected the stark contrast between mortals and gods.