THE DWM INTERVIEW
SOURCE MATERIAL
In the second instalment of a two-part feature exploring the costume-design process for Flux, RAY HOLMAN tells EMILY COOK about his negotiations for a tie from Italy, why he repurposed UNIT’s shin guards for Division Combat and how he achieved a retro vibe for Vinder.
Costume designer Ray Holman.
“Have you seen that little plasticine model someone made of Karvanista?” asks Ray Holman. Ray is referring to the work of Millie McKenzie aka @CowBearCreates.
“I saw it on Twitter,” says Ray. “I sent it to Mr Chibnall and he said, ‘Thank you for sending me this becausee it’s really brilliant.’ Karvanista was first shown on The Graham Norton Show on a Friday and she’d already made the model and put it on Twitter by the Sunday. So she didn’t have much time to do it. That’s when it’s really gorgeous, this world, when you get people who buy into it, see what we’re creating and then use their skills to recreate them.”
Last issue, Ray talked us through his design process for Karvanista. It’s one of the many costumes in Flux that he hopes cosplayers will relish.
“We’re making Doctor Who fun. It’s for families, for mum and dads and children. It’s for creatives and cosplayers. I’ve done a few challenging cosplay costumes this series. I’m looking forward to seeing people take them on. Cosplayers are getting better and better so I want to push them a bit further.”
Millie McKenzie’s Karvanista model.
VINDER
Vinder (Jacob Anderson) in War of the Sontarans.
A film poster for Ghostbusters (1984).
I wanted Vinder to be a bit 1980s, a bit Ghostbusters. I don’t know why, because he was meant to be a high-ranking general. But I wanted a bit of retro. When we first meet him, in Chapters One and Two, we don’t know why he’s in his outpost. Of course, we later find out that he’s been banished there. At the outpost, he wears a flight suit. I found a really trendy and modern flight suit. I just wanted to do layers but also make it feel cool. You may notice he’s got a shirt on over the t-shirt. The gilet is a vegan jacket I found, which I thought looked really 80s. I bought three of them and trimmed them up with proper military braiding , because Vinder is a military person. Then he’s got a flight jacket, flight boots with thick socks, a belt, upholste rs and military gloves.