Caribben Costumes

They are beautiful, gaudy and amazing, but how are they made, these large-scale Caribbean costumes? As we have entered into a EU-project, we now have the opportunity to pass on some of the secrets behind the beautiful costumes to schools, institutions, carnival enthusiasts and everyone interested in Northern Jutland. Please call Aalborg Carnival’s office for more information: +45 98 13 72 11. 

We have hired the Caribbean costume designer and artist Clary Salandy who is a member of one of London’s absolute top-carnival groups, ‘Mahogany’. Clary Salandy is well versed in spectacular costume designing-techniques and traditions, and she designed all the costumes for the winner of the Battle of the Carnival Bands competition in 2007. She will travel to Aalborg several times during spring to hold the workshops.

The biggest costumes are made from foam rubber, fibre pins, telescope fishing rods, and fabric. With these materials it is possible to create costumes with long durability but also with a suitable weight that can be carried by both children and adults.

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The sky is the limit when it comes to creative developments. On this page you can find examples of costumes in different sizes and difficulties.
 

Description: A costume made of fabric. The headgear is made of foam material. Thin fibre pins are put in the fabric in order to get the costume stretched. The costume is carried on a steel rack attached to the hips.

Description: The wings and neck are made of fabric. The headgear is made of foam material. Thin fibre pins are put in the fabric in order to get the costume stretched. The costume is carried on a rack attached to the back.

Description: The costume is carried on a rack attached to the back. The heads are hanging on a fishing net that is lifted by telescope fishing rods. The heads are made of white foam plates that are glued together.

Description: A costume made of fabric. In order to create the shape, a thin glass fibre pin (2mm) runs along the seam.

Description: The peacock wing is made of fabric. In order to create the shape, a thin glass fibre pin (2mm) runs along the seam. The head is made of foam that has been painted.

Description: The elephant is made of parachute fabric. In order to create the shape, a glass fibre pin (2mm) has been sown into the fabric. The construction rests on a rack carried on the back, which holds the pins approximately 4 meters above ‘the root’.

Description: A children’s costume made entirely of foam that has been glued together and sprinkled with glitter in different colours. There are no pins or anything else that the children may get hurt by. 

Description: If you do not have foam, it is also possible to make costumes form cardboard. However, these are more sensitive towards rain.

Description: Made of parachute fabric. In order to create the shape, a glass fibre pin (2mm) has been sown into the fabric. The construction rests on a rack carried on the back, which holds the pins from ‘the root’ that is fitted on hip level.