Film costumes are an artistic means of cinematic narration. Like the screenplay, directing, acting, set design, camera, and editing, they are one of the narrative and symbolic elements that contribute to the film’s overall effect. Film costumes are not made for everyday wear and in selecting their form, colors, material, cut and design, nothing is left to chance.

The exhibition, which has been put together by the Museum für Film und Fernsehen in collaboration with the Museum der Arbeit in Hamburg and Theaterkunst GmbH, traces the path of costume design over the past 100 years based on the history of the Berlin Theaterkunst GmbH. In a journey that extends into the past, the first large section of the exhibition presents some forty original costumes worn in films by German and international stars. The workshop section of the exhibition presents tools and equipment, materials and final products from a variety of occupational fields involved in making costumes. Special attention has been given to the work of the professional costume designer as interface between film production and costume house. In the next section, work documents, art and cultural historical materials, color schemes, photographs, figurines and sketches also illustrate the wide range of approaches taken by costume designers.