Hypebae: 'sorry to bother you' costume designer breaks down the afro-futurist looks from the movie

Sorry to Bother You is set in a world strikingly similar to Oakland, California. For Boots Riley‘s directorial debut, the creator pushes boundaries in regards to code-switching, race and pushing past the status quos set in place by Western society. The cast is led by Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta) and Tessa Thompson (Westworld), an actor and actress who both evoke a unique range of emotions on film. Indefinitely when watching a film filled with quirky hairstyles and plenty of bravado to match, viewers are left wondering how the wardrobe department made it all happen.

In our latest feature, costume designer Deirdra Govan breaks down how she breathed life into each character, what her brainstorming process was like and how she got her start in the industry. Her creative journey was marked by hard, diligent work on set of Broadway shows which followed numerous positions in the fashion industry. Prior to production of Sorry to Bother You, Govan was presented with the script and immediately began brainstorming. Riley’s surreal universe featured protestors, bold typography enveloped by a theme of Afrofuturism.