Dressing the Part
During the Dubai International Film Festival, BAFTA and Swarovski teamed up to present a Costume Design Masterclass featuring none other than renowned costume designer Alexandra Byrne. The industry icon and continued Swarovski collaborator known for her outstanding period costuming, Byrne shared her poignant insights on the future of cinema at both her sought-after Masterclass and a Workshop hosted at the newly opened Swarovski Creative Center.
Set at the Madinat Jumeirah and alongside a historical exhibition of Swarovski costumes, over 150 guests hung on to every word at the British designer’s Masterclass, presented by Swarovski and The British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA). Byrne touched on her depth and breadth of work – from mystery dramas such as Murder on the Orient Express (2017) to superhero styling for the Marvel Universe such as Thor (2011). “I have worked with [Swarovski] on characters ranging from Norse gods to 18th Century opera divas to Elizabeth I … [from] plated armor sleeves to the crown jewels,” she elaborated.
This highlights Swarovski’s heritage of bringing light and magic to the silver screen.
For 86 years, Swarovski crystals have graced the costumes of some of the most beloved actors and actresses and some of the most successful films, including Elizabeth: The Golden Age – which Byrne won her Academy Award for. From Dorothy’s ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz to Disney’s latest Cinderella’s glass slipper and many iconic films in between, the long history of adding a special tough to film and costumes continues.
In a continued show of support for film and its emerging talent, Swarovski also opened the Swarovski Creative Center in the Dubai Design District (d3) and invited students to further engage with Byrne at a Workshop after the Masterclass. They rifled through fabrications, got exclusive access to the costume designer, swiped through archival imagery on tablets and studied practical applications for Swarovski crystal in costume design.
In the end, both Byrne and Swarovski hoped to inspire the next generation and their costuming ambitions, bringing dreams to life on the big screen. They may be the next ones to seek and, like Byrne, win an Oscar for extraordinary work in the field.
