We recently connected with Edurne Fernandez and have shared our conversation below.
Edurne, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I have always thought of myself as a very optimistic and positive person. Not only in my business, but also in my personal and professional relationships, and in my everyday life. If you ask my friends, they will tell you that I always find the silver lining in every situation, and I consider that to be one of my strengths. Certainly there are days when it seems that nothing goes right, and it is fair to let one’s guard down from time to time, but it is also vital to remember that even the most successful people have bad days, and that these are an integral part of personal and professional growth.
I see optimism as a way of being excited about what’s coming, even when you are not 100% sure that it will have the outcome that you expect. It keeps life interesting, helps me visualize my purpose more clearly and value every step taken towards it. Optimism makes the journey so much more fun. It is a means of trusting in my capacity and abilities to achieve each of my life goals. Even if some days I don’t manage to do exactly what I had planned, optimism is the drive to keep trying.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a freelance Costume Designer for stage and film. I am in charge of designing, sketching, sourcing, swatching and creating all costumes for actors and extras. This must be achieved within strict budgets and tight schedules. My work is key to defining the overall ‘look’ of films and shows. My job is to enhance a character’s personality, and to create a world through an evolving plot with the help of color, social status, or period through the design of garments and accessories. It is a demanding job that requires high skills in research and creativity as well as deep knowledge in fashion history. All these elements are used as inspiration to create new and unconventional worlds like Avatar, or to recreate a period in time that requires the correct and authentic detail from a specific time like The Crown.
I‘m also involved in practical affairs, such as budgets and schedules, script breakdowns, rental houses, shopping lists, costume continuity, among others. My job is to help the characters’ emotional journeys through the story with specific costumes for each situation. I work closely with the director to make sure that their vision comes to life the most authentic way and by matching the show’s narrative..
Costume designers possess a remarkable creative eye and attention to detail. They have a wide range of cultural knowledge based, not only in fashion history, but also art, literature, film, and textiles in addition to a strong sense of color.
Being a costume designer has helped me in a very intimate way because I have developed empathy and connection not only with the character I’m creating but with the people I encounter day by day. Learning how to put myself in each of their shoes and think: “Who is this person? What is my story? My background? Traumas, likes, dislikes? Issues?” What type of personality do I have and what are my goals in life?”, has helped me learn how to put aside judgment and stereotypes to really see and understand that we are all different. This is what I like about my job. I love to help the actor and director create their own version of each character and bring it to life from the page to the screen.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
During these last two years I have improved my skills as an illustrator, which has helped me expand my network and community. I realized that, through perseverance, I improved my speed and efficiency in creating sketches, as well as my detailing and coloring. As a result of continued practice, my illustrations have become increasingly realistic.
I am also a perfectionist. Although it’s true that at times this can seem like a burden because there are things I can’t really control, it has pushed me to strive, always go to the next level and become better than I was yesterday, learning from my own mistakes. For me every little detail is important, and this quality comes in handy in the exercise of my profession.
I also learn very fast. I take my work very seriously and whenever I help another designer I pay full attention to the way they work. I’ve also realized over the years that I pick up information quite quickly. I take in every little thing, no matter how small, because for me it’s the little details that matter and what makes one stand out from the rest.
Given everything I’ve shared, I would say my biggest piece of advice is to never take anything for granted. Even if you are entrusted with the smallest assignment, which may seem insignificant to you, it is still crucial. There is no small job and every task is a cog that fits seamlessly into something bigger; every person and project needs the joint effort to exist. So don’t be discouraged if one of your days is not as exciting as the others; take on all your tasks with equal enthusiasm and do your best. I can guarantee that every day you will learn something that gets you one step closer to that place you desire.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Typically, costume designers work as freelancers and apply for temporary jobs depending on the duration of the production. Each project is different, which means that rates and salaries vary from one to the next. The Costume Designers Guild, an organization founded in 1953, has been working hard for several years to protect costume designers and eliminate wage disparity, but it remains a major challenge. The guild is made up of nearly 90% women who are paid less than male designers. Not only do female costume designers receive smaller paychecks, but they are also under-recognized compared to directors, producers, directors of photography and production designers, which are traditionally “men’s roles.” Costume design should be considered as important as any other design element, as it is crucial to the narrative and development of each story line by the mere fact that what you see on screen is an actor in costume, and that the impact of the story depends largely on the strength of the costume and characterization.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.edurnefernandez.com
- Instagram: @edurne_fdz
- Other: IMDB ; Edurne Fernandez
