Now the King gets into the movie business… with a little help from Hollywood studios and A-lister Sienna Miller
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King Charles is making a foray into the movie business – as it is announced his charity is teaming up with a Hollywood studio and actress Sienna Miller.
The King’s Foundation is offering a new postgraduate-level programme in costume design in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios – the production company behind visual masterpieces such as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Fallout.
Eight budding students will be taught the essentials of costume-making for TV and film at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, where The King’s Foundation is headquartered.
Students will learn technical skills including leathercraft, hand stitching, natural dyeing and sewing production, which they will use to create costumes for both Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video.
They will also learn innovative ways to repurpose the clothing used on set, in line with the King’s advocacy of sustainable initiatives.
The hands-on scheme has already been backed by Hollywood stars who have hailed it as ‘a real milestone’ in the filmmaking sector.
Actress and model Sienna Miller, who has starred in movies such as Alfie and Layer Cake, said: ‘The craft of costumery is so integral to the TV and film industry.
Sienna Miller and King Charles attending the King’s Foundation charity’s inaugural awards at St James’s Palace, London, last month
Miller has vast industry experience, having starred in movies such as 2004’s Layer Cake
The new programme will be based at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, above
‘It’s about so much more than just clothes – it’s about creating wearable pieces of art that help tell stories and bring characters to life.
‘Having seen the incredible work being done by The King’s Foundation to support emerging fashion and textile talent here in the UK, I can’t wait to meet the students taking part in this new Costume Craft Programme and see them go on to carve out successful careers in the industry.
‘This is a real milestone in protecting the future of costume design and production.’
Miller, known for her impeccable style since her debut in the Noughties, became a patron for the charity last year – and attended an event involving students from one of its textiles courses.
The fully-funded costume design programme is the latest addition to a series of textile courses offered by The King’s Foundation, which also teaches heritage crafts such as embroidery, millinery, and luxury garment production.
Simon Sadinsky, executive director of The King’s Foundation, said: ‘This exciting course will help to provide a new pipeline of talented costume designers and makers to support the growing TV and film industry in the UK.’
