Overview

This standard is about your ability to maintain and service costumes, keeping them clean and in good condition prior to and during productions.

This may involve identifying the correct servicing techniques, checking and repairing costumes, keeping accurate and relevant records, labeling the costumes and storing and protecting costumes from damage

This standard may be applicable to costume supervisors, costume assistants, costume stand bys and wardrobe assistants.

Performance criteria

You must be able to do:

1. examine costumes and assess condition
2. identify required repairs, alterations and improvements and agree them with the relevant person(s)
3. carry out basic sewing and alterations and ‘mark up’ more complex repairs and alterations
4. label and hand over costumes and instructions of work required to the relevant person
5. examine returned altered/repaired items and ensure they meet the required standard and instructions
6. select servicing methods which are appropriate for the costumes’ materials and
7. embellishments
8. determine and agree the most suitable option for dealing with costumes that are impractical to service
9. check the design brief for stated costume service requirements and service costumes accordingly
10. check terms of agreement if using a hire company and service costumes accordingly
11. note and report accidental damage to costumes during servicing
12. seek advice from the relevant person(s) should costumes be damaged during servicing
13. re-label serviced costumes with relevant information
14. store serviced items and ensure that they are readily available to meet production requirements
15. ensure costumes are secure, kept in the required conditions and protected when not in use
16. communicate across production staff and other relevant departments or individuals
17. follow health and safety legislation and guidelines at all times

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand: 

1. the production costume requirements, time constraints and production schedule
2. Stock room operations and procedures
3. costume storage conditions, protection, and stowage techniques
4. basic sewing, maintenance and servicing tasks
5. procedures for complex repairs or alterations
6. the types of materials in common use for costume construction and embellishment and the frailties of each in relation to servicing treatment
7. continuity requirements of the production
8. costume records and labelling, information required the terms of agreement in place when using hire companies
9. legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements in relation to the safe use and handling of servicing equipment and agents
10. production staff and other relevant departments involved in the production and the communication protocol
11. statutory responsibilities under health, safety and environmental legislation and regulations