Rita Ryack designed this costume for the Santa Fe Opera Company’s 2019 production of the new Opera, The 13th Child directed by Darko Tresnjak. These costumes were draped by Rose Kaczmarowski.
This robe was made from patterned velvet lined in silk taffeta and attached to a quilted base. The slashes were each cut and bagged out individually. Volunteers at the opera costume shop then did a majority of the gold thread detail around the slashes. The sleeves were constructed completely and the faux ermine was applied as a trim. The ermine itself was created from separate white and brown faux fur and each of the “tails” was made individually and attached by hand. In addition the golden needle dangles which hang from the lower edges of the slashes were also produced in house.