Ruth Carter Was The Wardrobe Wizard Behind Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’

Ryan Coogler’s supernatural horror film Sinners is making waves at the box office. Released April 18, the eerie thriller—starring Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, and a strong ensemble cast—debuted at No. 1, surpassing industry expectations. According to CNN, Sinners raked in $45.6 million domestically, outpacing projections of $35 million and edging out A Minecraft Movie, which earned $41.3 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total close to $345 million.

Coogler teamed up with legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter to bring his chilling vision to life in Sinners. Set in the 1930s American South, the supernatural thriller features Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers who return to their hometown, only to confront a dark and powerful evil threatening to destroy everything they hold dear. 

In a video shared to Instagram on April 19, Carter—who previously worked with the award-winning director on Black Panther—revealed that her creative spark first ignited when Coogler called her to share his concept for the film. He spoke passionately about his fascination with Southern roots, the rich history of the blues, and the haunting legacy of the Mississippi Delta, all of which fueled Carter’s imagination and inspired the film’s striking visual style.

“I’ve been on a long journey with Ryan Coogler. We created the Black Panther franchise. We were creating the afro future and superheroes, and he’s telling me this new story on the phone. And he’s telling me about the history of the blues and the Mississippi Delta. I can’t believe it’s coming out of the same filmmaker,” Carter, 65, said in a promo for the film shared Friday. “He’s tapped into a deep love that I have as a costume designer.”

Ruth E. Carter talks Sinners.

Short clips from the video showed Carter meticulously painting dirt and blood stains onto distressed jackets, customizing Western-style pieces with intricate beading and tassels, and crafting 1930s-era church suits that felt as if she had pulled them straight from Coogler’s imagination. Her designs perfectly captured the essence of the characters in Sinners. In fact, Jordan—who referred to the costume designer as “mama bear”—said it was “so satisfying” to watch Carter bring his characters to life through her unique design process. Notably, Jordan wasn’t the only castmember to say this about the legendary costume designer.

Before the release of Sinners, Wunmi Mosaku—who portrays “Annie” in the film—shared high praise for Carter, calling her “an alchemist.” In a March interview with HelloBeautiful, Mosaku admired Carter’s ability to infuse intention and technical precision into every design, describing her work as both thoughtful and masterfully crafted.

“It’s not just the clothing. She considers everything on a 360/4D level. Costume is quite a difficult aspect of the job—trying to feel confident and comfortable in someone else’s clothes. Watching her detail and care was exquisite,” the 38-year-old star explained. “There was added texture and depth every day. I began envisioning a truly rounded character coming. Then you come in for your last fitting, and she adds these small details.”

The Nigerian actress explained that Carter kept all of the costumes exciting, adding and refining each piece throughout filming. 

“In my first scene, my skirt has a slip, and I love its color and the buttons on the side. On the day I was shooting, I put on the skirt, and there was a little red silk in between the slit giving a hint of something else. Ms. Ruth also cut my top in the middle and tied it in a knot. And I was like, ‘Oh, there Annie is—fully and utterly.’ Everything in her pocket: her mojo bag, her little tool belt, and even the silver and the leather. Everything that is on Annie is for Annie; nothing is superfluous,” she added. 

Have you seen Sinners in theaters? Tell us about it in the comments section. 

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