The costumes of superheroes like Thor and Superman were brought to life by a Korean-American designer.
Vanessa Lee (56), a Korean-American costume designer (fabricator) in Hollywood’s film industry, is gaining attention.
On February 26, ‘Korea.net,’ a website under the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, introduced Lee’s story, highlighting her unique position in the industry as the creator of costumes for world-famous superhero characters.
According to the Korea.net, Lee is a veteran with nearly 20 years of experience in the film costume industry. Born and raised in Korea, she moved to the United States at 26.
Initially, she worked as a pattern maker, drafting clothing patterns, but soon had to leave her job when her daughter fell ill. As she was preparing to return to work, she came across a job advertisement seeking specialists for TV and film costume production. Believing it to be fate, she took on the new challenge.
In her mid-30s at the time, Lee decided to pursue her dream in the film industry rather than opting for a stable job.
In an interview with the media outlet, Lee said, “It had been my dream since my teenage years to work in the film industry,” adding, “Even though the pay was much lower than my previous job, I still applied for the position.”
Film costume production requires not only precision but also strong communication skills. While costume designers sometimes create outfits from scratch, they typically work based on design sketches provided by film producers.
Regarding this, she explained, “The costume production process is a collaborative effort that reflects the input of filmmakers and actors,” adding, “When designing superhero costumes, in particular, fan opinions must also be considered, which requires smooth communication through various channels.”
Lee has personally designed costumes for numerous films, including The Avengers, Iron Man 2, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Amazing Spider-Man, Man of Steel, and Star Trek Into Darkness.
Among her works, the most memorable project for her was Darkest Hour, starring Gary Oldman. For the film, Lee created a custom bodysuit for Oldman, who portrayed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Describing the costume, she said, “It was made of flexible silicone material, offering elasticity, and it was the first bodysuit that differentiated itself from Hollywood’s traditional methods.”
Darkest Hour, which featured Lee’s craftsmanship, won the Best Makeup and Hairstyling award at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. Oldman, wearing the bodysuit designed by Lee, also won the Best Actor award.
Lee takes great pride in incorporating Korean aesthetics into her costume designs.
“I always try to stay connected to my roots,” she said, adding, “For Black Adam, I was able to complete the design of the wizards’ costumes by drawing inspiration from the silhouette of the hanbok.”
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
