To outfit an entire fictional nation, Ruth E. Carter studied a crucial and non-historical reference tool ā a āWakandan Bibleā ā which helped her map out and break down the different communities within the kingdom. āI looked at Wakanda like Manhattan,ā she explained, detailing the young, āAfro-punkā student and intellectual-populated āNYU-area,ā or the āMidtownā business districts or the āColumbiaā-esque medical center, which also helped her determine how to differentiate the residents via dress.Ā
Wakandaās high-tech civilization and resources include the coveted indestructible metal, vibranium, which also powers Black Pantherās supersuit. Carter also needed to incorporate Wakandaās technological superiority into the costumes ā especially when Coogler deemed one of her earlier pitches as being ātoo low tech.ā
ā[So, I took] all of this design research and combining of these elements and made it forward-thinking,ā she explained. āMore or less, weāre paying homage to the ancient people of Africa, but weāre also showing that they are proud of their heritage and moving ahead by having more vibranium laced into the costume by their costume having a purpose ā a real clear purpose.ā - Interview with Ruth E. Carter, costume designer for Black Panther (2018)
