This is a project I did in Shakespeare collaboration class at Northwestern University. The team consisted of Alvin Chan as the director, Nora Smith as the scenic designer, Daphne Agosin as the lighting designer and I as the costume designer. We adapted Othello in a modernized and reimagined American society where power relationship between the counterparts of Venice as an empire and Cyprus as a colony take place. In our play Venice is the U.S. and Cyprus is the Philippines, which had to endure colonization by Spain and then occupation by the U.S. Venice imposes its structure on an island with its own native population. 

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In my design foreign and native collide together reflecting on colonial times of America. In Venice we see structure, high class and poise and in Cyprus there’s more looseness and color with linens and cottons seen on the natives. We also see native soldiers working along Venice officers, who represent western presence on an island. While natives keep their traditions and soft fabrics in clothing, they are westernized through the harsh and dark weapons and gear. 

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Women are strong in this world full of men who are quick to judge them. They are not too feminine not to look vulnerable, they have structure and some “masculinity” within their silhouettes and stiff fabrics. Furthermore, as the play progresses Desdemona and Emilia embody the environment they came to. Venice men came to Cyprus with their power and force, they need to keep their uniforms, but women in this play didn’t come to conquer and they welcome the environment.