Costume for Black Panther worn by Chadwick Boseman

Object Details

Caption

This version of Black Panther's suit was first conceptualized by Andy Park and designed by Judianna Makovsky for Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther character in the 2016 Marvel film Captain America: Civil War. Boseman donned this costume again in the first few scenes of the character's title film, Black Panther. Later in the film, Boseman's character, T'Challa, gains an upgraded panther suit courtesy of his sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright. Like the new costume designed by Ruth E. Carter, this Black Panther suit features a triangle motif, which Carter calls "the sacred geometry of Africa."

Description

Costume for the character Black Panther worn by Chadwick Boseman in the Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther movies. The costume includes five (5) parts- a bodysuit (.1abc), helmet (.2), hood (.3), two gloves (.4ab), and two boots (.5ab). The costume is black and dark grey, with silver markings and geometric designs imprinted in dot, triangle, and diamond motifs throughout. It is mounted on a form and stand.

.1: The bodysuit consists of a sleeveless farmer john style jumpsuit with full legs (a), a leotard-style bodysuit with three-quarter sleeves that fits under the jumpsuit and attaches with Velcro (b), and a muscle under suit (c).

(a)The sleeveless bodysuit with full legs is black with a textured, cross-hatched design, divided into seamed sections. Around the neckline is a silver stylized panther claw necklace with eleven claws, the points facing downwards. Each of the six claws has an indented geometric design with a raised, thin line going down the center of each claw. At the back of the necklace is a silver downward facing triangle. The collar of the bodysuit is attached to the front and secures on the back with Velcro. Underneath the necklace is a dark grey, triangular piece of material with an indented diamond and triangle geometric motif at the front and at the back, the same material cut in eight diamond pieces arranged in two vertical lines down the shoulder blades. The imprinted dark grey material is also applied in bands forming a “V” pattern down the chest and back, wrapping around the hips, and forming an inverted “V” pattern down the legs and arms, and a diamond pattern at the shoulders. There are small silver pieces set around the hips. The legs have stirrups to secure to the feet. On the interior, there is a metal wire set at chest height from side to side and covered with black petersham ribbon. The ribbon extends fully around the chest and secures at center back with Velcro. This wire can attach to a hook on the muscle suit at center front. There are 2 invisible zippers set in seams at the crotch.

(b)Leotard-style bodysuit with three-quarter sleeves. The decorated fabric is used for the sleeves and upper portion of the garment; a stretch black net is used for the rest of the body, and plain black jersey is used where the sleeves are covered by the gloves. The leotard closes at center back with a large zipper. There is an elastic strap attached to the bottom front on the leotard. This strap passes between the legs and is secured at the base of the zipper with 2 metal hooks and bars. Also on the back of the leotard are Velcro pieces that attach to Velcro on the bodysuit with full legs.

.2: The helmet is black and in the form of a stylized panther head with pointed ears at the top, silver markings and bands of geometric designs in diamonds, triangles, and dots. It is constructed in a single piece, with magnets used to hold the sides in place.

A vertical silver line runs down the center of the top of the helmet to the forehead. Two sets of silver lines run from the back of the head to the bridge of the nose, and out above the eyes with another silver line running from the outside corner of each eye, across the nose. The eyes are silver, almond-shaped, and have a metal mesh-like appearance. There is an intricate and symmetrical diamond design at the center of the forehead and along the silver markings, which continues down the bridge of the nose. In between the two sets of silver lines is a repeating pattern of alternating triangles. Another set of silver lines run from around the ears, across the cheekbones, and down at the sides of the mouth and chin. A vertical band of dots runs from the tip of the nose to the bottom of the chin, with lines of dots forming an alternating triangle patter on either side of the chin.

At the top, the ears are outlined in silver and feature textured lines in triangle patterns in the front and outside, with a diamond design on the ridge and a smooth back interior. Under the ears and down to the temples are imprinted lines and dots forming an alternating triangle pattern. Every other alternating line has small square shaped cut outs in a repeating pattern.

The back of the helmet has two sets of black lines with dots and triangle markings that form a “V” pattern at the center, with more lines in a geometric triangle motif between the two “V” lines.

.3: The hood, which covers the neck, is a piece of black material with the same textured, cross-hatch design as the jumpsuit, with seamed lines forming a triangle motif throughout. Most of the hood is made with decorated black fabric with a panel of stretch black net along the back of the head. The face opening is circled with a narrow band of plain black jersey, and there is an elastic band to stabilize the hood across the forehead. The hood closes at center back with a vertical zipper.

.4ab: The gloves are elbow length and made from a black fabric textured in vertical lines. At the elbow, the gloves end in a firm, smooth-textured, V-shaped black trim with a silver band in the middle and three silver, stylized panther claws on the outside of each glove. The claws face downward and have an imprinted geometric design. Velcro at the cuff attaches the gloves to the sleeve piece. At the wrists and hands are pieces of protective padding in a dark grey material inset with geometric designs in a diamond pattern. Zips at the wrist allow the hand to enter the glove. There is a hard covering on each of the fingers with small triangular cutouts near the knuckles and the center of each finger, with pieces of silver beneath the center cutouts.

.5ab: The boots are composed of a soft black fabric with textured vertical lines. The shaft of the boot slides up the calf and ends in a V-shaped cuff of harder, shiny material. The boots have side zippers. There are small fabric tabs that cover the tops of the zippers; these tabs secure to the boots with Velcro. There is a thick band below the cuff with short, textured diagonal lines repeating in six rows. On the back of the boot shafts, seamed bands are arranged to form a triangle motif. There is a zipper in the shaft. The foot section of the boots are composed of a fabric with a textured cross-hatch pattern. There are several bands of textured diagonal lines across the vamp with a center vertical band of an imprinted triangle motif. The toecaps have an inverted “V”-shaped pattern. The hard rubber outsole curves over the tip of the toecaps with raised shapes resembling a paw or claws.

Date

2016

Produced by

Marvel Worldwide, Inc., American, founded 1939

Worn by

Chadwick Boseman, American, 1977 - 2020

Created by

Andy Park, American, born 1975

Designed by

Judianna Makovsky, American, born 1967

Cultural Place

Africa

Place made

United States, North and Central America

Topic

African American

Comics and graphic novels

Costume

Costume design

Design

Film

Hollywood (Film)

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse, C 033

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse, C 050

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Company

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2018.39.1.1abc-.5ab

Type

costume

helmets

gloves

boots

bodysuits

Restrictions & Rights

© Marvel

Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Medium

Skin suit, gloves, and boots: synthetic fiber, Velcro (TM), and metal;

Muscle Suit: spandex, Lycra, polyester, and latex;

Helmet: urethane elastomer, plastic, and magnets

Dimensions

H x W (Full Costume Measurements): 75 × 23 in. (190.5 × 58.4 cm)

Record ID

nmaahc_2018.39.1.1abc-.5ab

Metadata Usage

CC0

GUID

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5bae0c0de-7388-475e-b812-296958d6d890