Ruth E. Carter: What Makes an Iconic Costume?

The Sam Sanders Show

KCRW & Sam Sanders

Tv & Film, Society & Culture

4.9 • 709 Ratings

🗓️ 5 December 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter makes people look good on the big screen — especially Black people.

She’s the mind behind the costumes for countless iconic films including Malcolm X, Do The Right Thing, the Black Panther franchise, and arguably the biggest movie this year… Sinners.

Sam chats with Ruth about the literal blood and sweat that goes into her designs, the first garment she ever made, and working as one of the few Black costume designers in Hollywood.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey listeners, it is the season of giving. Get that warm, fuzzy feeling. Make a donation,
0:06.2	pick out some cozy KCRW merch, or send meals to local food banks. Donate now at kCRW.com
0:13.6	slash give.
0:20.7	Hey, y'all. It's the Sam Sanders show from KCRW.
0:24.4	So I record a lot of these episodes in a studio, a studio that we have decorated as best we can on a public radio budget.
0:33.7	My guest is this episode, she really liked our studio set up.
0:37.7	Like, really liked it.
0:39.4	I feel like I'm in Naples, Italy.
0:41.5	Y'all hear that?
0:43.1	Y'all hear that?
0:44.4	Naples, Italy.
0:45.6	I love it.
0:46.5	Okay.
0:47.7	You are on your way to be my favorite guest.
0:50.1	I love it.
0:51.2	This guest also came dressed to the nines for our conversation.
0:56.3	You know, this set is just so extraordinary.
0:58.8	I just was like, do I wear a t-shirt?
1:01.5	Do I wear a jeans?
1:02.2	No, I can't.
1:03.3	I have to come.
1:04.4	Color.
	...

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