Anita's interest in costume design began in her youth, as an avid classic film enthusiast. The artistry of well crafted costumes captured her imagination, curiosity, and desire to create. A strong interest in design lead her to Los Angeles, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree of Fine Arts at the esteemed Otis Art Institute of Design. She majored in fashion design with a concentration in costume design, and was mentored by Academy Award winning costume designer, Theodora Van Runkle.
Anita's broad spectrum of skills includes an extensive knowledge of fashion and costume history, pattern making, draping, fitting, costume illustration, and textiles. She also has acquired a mastery of garment construction and creation as a result of her experience working as a designer in the apparel industry. Anita also possesses a vast network of contacts to aid in building and sourcing vintage and contemporary wardrobe. From local costumes houses, to retail and vintage clothing stores, to access to custom costume creation at a downtown Los Angeles design studio, all production costume needs can be addressed.
Along with her costume designing skills, Anita also has experience in set costuming and supervising, making her a well rounded designer with a knowledge of all of crucial roles that build a strong team. Anita, who is based in Los Angeles, also possesses dual Canadian citizenship making her available to work throughout the U.S. and Canada.
If you have a story to tell, Anita will create a rich visual landscape through the art of costuming.
"While immersed in a film's collaborative process, I have often observed the lively interplay between the writer's words, the director's vision, the production designer's sets, and the valuable input of the actor, which often arrives during the fittings. It is at this time when all these forces magically converge, that a character emerges, and is revealed."
- Anita Rinaldi-Harnden