Alumni
Costume Designer and FIDM Grad Kendra Raymond's First Film Rosie Gaining Attention in Film Festivals
Grad Kendra Raymond is the costume designer on a film that has been gaining attention in film festivals recently. Directed by Tessa Germaine, Rosie, a fictionalized origin story for the feminist icon, Rosie the Riveter, follows a factory worker Rose Donnelly as she stands up for her female co-workers. Kendra, who has FIDM degrees in Fashion Design and Film & TV Costume Design, tells us that Rose was the only character approved to wear the color red, in order to put the focus on her as the main character and to tie in with the iconic "We Can Do It!" poster by J. Howard Miller. Before attending FIDM, Kendra earned her Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design, with a minor in Theater (for costume design), from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We caught up with Kendra to learn more.
Tell us how you found out about the opportunity to work on Rosie: I found the open position of costume designer for Rosie through an email newsletter forwarded to me by the director of FIDM's Film & TV Costume Design program, Jacqueline Saint Anne.
Tell us about Rose’s wardrobe. Describe some of the pieces you designed: The only custom piece I made for the production was an apron worn by Rose's mother in a scene at their home. The rest were primarily sourced through antique/vintage shops, a few modern recreations through Amazon, and a handful of factory uniforms from the costume shop LUCID STUDIOS.
How did Rose’s wardrobe complement her character? Rose was the only character approved to wear the color red in order to put the focus on her as the main character and to tie in with the classic Rosie the Riveter poster.
Was this your first film? Yes, this was my first time working on a film and had quite a blast.
What was the process like to work on a film? I was thankful to get the position early on from filming. So my pre-production time started in November of 2019 and we filmed mid and end of February 2020.
What was the biggest challenge? The biggest challenge was trying to get prepped and have stock ready to go for filming before I gave birth. Yes, I was pregnant and gave birth on February 2, 2020. My son Ollivander became our set baby and was a peach the whole time.
Biggest reward? The biggest reward was seeing the final edit. However, my favorite scene during filming was the walkout. I cried every time, it was that powerful.
Any upcoming projects? I have filming for a role-playing, DnD inspired, web series at the end of April and beginning of May that I am currently prepping.
How are you staying inspired during the pandemic? Staying inspired can be hard. Luckily I have not had a whole lot of time for personal projects since April 2020. I made hundreds of face masks, did a costume for a short pilot episode, and a handful of custom designed pieces besides the previously mentioned web-series. On top of that, I am also doing online coursework for a history degree as well. However, the custom projects have allowed me a little bit of free reign in design to try out new techniques and new materials that I had previously not worked with before.
Follow Kendra Raymond on Instagram @aml_designs. Watch the trailer for Rosie here.
Categories: Fashion Design Film & TV Costume Design Alumni Student
