Ruth E. Carter: Redefining Fashion and Pioneering Afrofuturism - costume designer behind Black Panther and Wakanda Forever and more

Are you thinking of fashion? What if every piece of fabric told a story—one that could change how an entire community was seen, understood, and remembered? That is exactly what we are taking about today. For Ruth E. Carter, the Oscar-winning costume designer behind Black Panther and Wakanda Forever, fashion has always been a tool for empowerment, storytelling, and, most importantly, identity.

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How did a young woman from Massachusetts become the first Black person to win an Academy Award for Costume Design? How did she go from a sewing class at her local Boys and Girls Club to dressing the royalty of Wakanda?

The answers to these questions are more than just a tale of one woman’s ascent in Hollywood—they offer you, the creative entrepreneur, a roadmap for how fashion, culture, and community intersect to create something world-changing.

The Power of Storytelling through Costume

You’ve likely heard the saying that “clothes make the man,” but for Ruth E. Carter, they do so much more—they tell the story of who that person is, where they come from, and where they’re going.

Carter, a two-time Oscar winner, has always believed that a costume designer is, at their core, a storyteller. When she worked on Black Panther, she wasn’t just dressing actors in elaborate costumes—she was weaving a visual tapestry of African culture, history, and future possibilities, all in one intricate design.

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This approach resonates strongly with the research project we began in 2013 in Verona, Italy, exploring the presence of Africans in northern Italy. What started as a small endeavor has since evolved into a global phenomenon.

Led by Obehi Ewanfoh, the author behind The Storytelling Mastery, the project “The Journey“—is reshaping narratives within the African diaspora. It is opening new paths for collaboration and redefining the way we tell our stories.

The Wakandan royal garments weren’t just based on any African culture; they were a celebration of a diverse, uncolonized Africa, one that could have existed without the scars of colonization.

Her costumes didn’t just contribute to the plot—they anchored the entire narrative. They embodied the themes of empowerment, resistance, and resilience that are at the heart of Black Panther’s story.

This is where Carter’s genius lies. Through fabric, color, texture, and detail, she used her designs to bring forward a new representation of African culture that was powerful, futuristic, and unapologetically African.

This isn’t just relevant to the fashion industry—it’s directly applicable to how you, as a creative entrepreneur, can use your work to make a meaningful impact.

Just as Carter’s designs have shaped global perceptions of African heritage, your creative endeavors can challenge, inspire, and uplift the communities you represent.

Afrofuturism: Designing a Future Without Limits

As a creative entrepreneur from the African diaspora, the idea of Afrofuturism may already resonate with you. The genre imagines a world where African cultures, technologies, and futures evolve without the constraints of colonization or oppression.

Ruth E. Carter’s work is a pillar of Afrofuturism, and it’s one that should give you permission to dream big in your own business endeavors.

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When Carter designed the costumes for Black Panther and Wakanda Forever, she was propelled by the vision of a future for African people that was neither bound by the past nor shaped by the legacy of slavery or colonialism.

She drew on real African cultures but reimagined them in ways that hadn’t been done before, blending traditional garments with futuristic technology and aesthetic choices. The use of vibrant textiles, powerful symbols, and ceremonial dress created a world that was both deeply rooted in African identity and boldly futuristic.

But this isn’t just fantasy. Afrofuturism offers a template for entrepreneurship that values cultural authenticity while embracing innovation. It allows you to rethink what the future could look like for African and African diasporic communities—one where business, culture, and identity coexist in powerful ways.

When you create from this place, you contribute not only to your craft but to a larger, generational impact that reaches beyond your business’s bottom line.

The Rising Power of Afrofuturism in Global Fashion

Afrofuturism’s reach has only expanded in the years following Black Panther’s release, and Ruth E. Carter is undoubtedly at the forefront of this cultural movement. According to a 2020 study by McKinsey & Company, the African fashion market is projected to reach $15.5 billion by 2025, a significant increase from the $5.3 billion it was valued at in 2017.

“Fashion” according to the Nigerian Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa” is far more than a form of expression. It is an economic powerhouse.”

“The global fashion industry,” she added in a report published by the Nigeran Trube “is valued at approximately $2.5 trillion.” In Nigeria alone, the fashion industry contributes approximately $6.1 billion to GDP, while South Africa’s textile sector employs over 140,000 people, demonstrating the sector’s capacity for job creation.

Learn more about Ruth E. Carter at https://aclasses.org/ruth-carter/