Fashion Forum - Episode 11: Meet Celebrity Costume Designer, Rahimah Yoba
Hello my fashionable friends,
On Tuesday, October 6th, Rahimah Yoba joined Fashion Forum to talk about her career in costume design and wardrobe fulfillment. She discussed how she got her start and dropped a few pearls of wisdom for those aspiring to be in the industry.
Rahimah has creativity running through her veins—a poet, artist, and graduate from LaGuardia H.S. of Performing Arts in New York—she got her start in the 90’s as an intern on New York Undercover, and worked way up through the ranks. She has spent over 25 years in the film and TV industry and some of her recent projects include TV series Empire, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I. G., Netflix feature film Uncorked, and styling B2K for the Millennium Tour.
Rahimah shared some of the positive aspects of working in the industry which include the ability to travel, great health insurance, developing friendships and connections, and the flexibility to create her own schedule. She also enjoys inspiring people and imparting her knowledge, generously giving her time to help those who aspire to be in the industry.
Costume Designer, Rahimah Yoba
Challenges
One of the challenges Rahimah has faced includes navigating situations like writer’s strikes or the current COVID pandemic, so she recommends having another stream of income to fall back on, when opportunities may be limited. Adapting to the various celebrity personalities can also be a challenge, and Rahimah likens her role to being a psychologist—having to get inside the minds of her clients and understand their pressures and difficulties.
Rahimah’s Approach to Costume Design
Rahimah takes a very hands-on approach when working on projects. For the Netflix film Uncorked, which took place in Memphis, TN, Rahimah wanted to get a feel for the local fashion, so she arrived in the area a few weeks prior to when filming began. She drove around to see what people are actually wearing, with the goal of giving the main character Elijah, an authentic look while still maintaining his individuality.
In addition to a commitment to authentic storytelling through clothing, Rahimah always tries to ensure the actors are comfortable with what they’re wearing, including being mindful of fabric choices, shoes, and overall fit.
Advice
For those aspiring to work in the film or TV industry in costume design, Rahimah recommends contacting local unions to get more information.
Check out the replay of Fashion Forum to learn more about Rahimah’s background as a costume designer and to get more insight into the life of a celebrity costume designer.
Thank you for reading!
