Echo Costume Designer Stacy Caballero Talks Following Hawkeye and Pulling From Comics

As a gamer with a deep-rooted love for Marvel shows and a soft spot for costume designs that tell captivating stories, I can’t help but be thoroughly impressed by Stacy Caballero‘s work on Echo. The way she seamlessly continues the narrative from Hawkeye, while also incorporating elements from the comics and honoring the Choctaw Nation, is truly remarkable.

In recognition of the Emmy nomination for “Echo,” the Marvel Studios show, ComicBook recently interviewed costume designer Stacy Caballero. During the interview, she discussed creating costumes that pay tribute to the Choctaw Nation and her previous work on other Marvel projects prior to working on “Echo.”

“Caballero admitted to intentionally altering Fisk’s appearance once more in ‘Echo’. He also mentioned Michael Crow, a costume designer and friend who worked on ‘Hawkeye’, expressing his deep respect for him. Since they both worked within the Marvel universe for some time, Caballero sought his advice and insights, having been involved with ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ previously.”

She clarified, “Once you express your desire for more episodes from the earlier series, they will provide them all for you, allowing you to seamlessly transition between seasons. This is particularly true since Echo began essentially the day after wrapping up Kingpin and going on the run.”

Of course, Hawkeye wasn’t the sole inspiration for Caballero when designing Echo’s looks. We inquired the Emmy-nominated costume designer about incorporating elements from the Echo comic books.

She clarified, “That resource was immense.” Her consistent advice, in a world reminiscent of filmmaking, revolves around the script. The scripts we receive, being a storyteller at heart, I delve into them first. However, whenever I encountered obstacles and sought additional inspiration, I often revisited the comic books, particularly those focused on Kingpin, and Echo as well.

In his own words, Caballero mentioned that he had borrowed certain elements from Echo’s style. Specifically, he kept the same shape for mock necks, regardless if they were sleeveless, short-sleeved, or long-sleeved. He also stated that there were aspects of Echo’s style that he chose to carry over when working on Kingpin. Particularly, he was eager to reintroduce the vest in Kingpin’s design.

She mentioned, “I often return to the original comic books for reference. That’s where it all started, and then the workflow follows… It reminded me of my previous projects with Marvel. It was as if I had returned to a familiar place.”

Additionally, we inquired from Caballero concerning Maya’s leather motorbike jacket, a significant aspect contributing to her unique style and ambiance.

She expressed that it was both considerate and well-planned. Notably, this is reminiscent of Hawkeye. I carefully observed how Michael portrayed the character in Hawkeye and the overall presentation on screen. I knew she had her black motorcycle jacket initially, then later sported the Kingpin’s tracksuit stripes, and finally incorporated Echo into her look. Her black jacket has undergone an evolution, she added.

In the opening of “Echo”, we find that our protagonist is fleeing, carrying no belongings. As a result, she needs to acquire essential items, such as a new jacket, from places she encounters along her journey. She demonstrates resourcefulness by thrifting, which is a clever way of reusing or buying used items. Since she’s quite intelligent, she has some cash on hand. This leads us to imagine that she might have visited a motorcycle store, purchased one, but managed to obtain it as she was leaving the premises.

Afterward, she adds her distinctive touch to it, as the Echo symbol holds great significance. The choice of copper for its design and the inclusion of the Echo sun in copper were deliberate. If you look closely at the background, you’ll notice the Choctaw diamonds. Moreover, it serves to safeguard her.

Caballero clarified that the jacket is exceptionally well-constructed. He collaborated with Boda Skins in its creation, but certain features were ultimately discarded. Initially, there was an additional detail on the arm, which was completely removed. The decision was made to streamline the design, making it more suitable for future developments. With so much beading, embroidery, and leather embossing, simplifying the design allowed a clearer view of the jacket’s transformation as it adapts for fighting mode.

Echo is now available to stream on Disney+.

2024-08-15 04:39

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