Dressing for Dystopia: The Handmaid’s Tale Costumes by Ane Crabtree

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) presents Dressing for Dystopia: The Handmaid’s Tale Costumes by Ane Crabtree, featuring iconic costumes from the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning Hulu original series produced by MGM Television. This debut exhibition of Crabtree’s work, which includes more than 40 garments from seasons one and two, will be on view May 1 through August 12.

“The beauty of SCAD degree programs lives in the direct connection between classroom instruction and industry; you see it in everything SCAD does, including the celebrated exhibitions of our teaching museums,” said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. “Our university is top-ranked for the study of costume design, and we’re pleased to welcome the year’s most acclaimed costume designs to SCAD FASH. Prepare to step inside the world of fashion and the world of film with this sensational exhibition at SCAD FASH, America’s only museum of fashion and film.”

The SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film collaborated with Crabtree to design the exhibition. Crabtree was nominated for a 2017 Emmy for her work on The Handmaid’s Tale and earned three nominations from the Costume Designers Guild for Westworld, Masters of Sex and Pan Am. In 2018, she earned the Costume Designers Guild award for Excellence in Contemporary Television for her work with The Handmaid’s Tale.

“Ane Crabtree is someone who can tell stories with clothes, and the impact the show’s wardrobe has had in the political conversation around the world has been groundbreaking, but honestly not surprising,” said The Handmaid’s Tale creator Bruce Miller. “She’s a genius, and fabulous human being, and we’re thrilled that SCAD is honoring her work.”

The museum’s first exhibition focused on costume design celebrates a new facet of the many intersections of fashion and film, exemplifying the cross-disciplinary nature of creative professions. The exhibition follows SCAD’s top 10 ranking in “Best Schools for Costume Design” by The Hollywood Reporter.

“It’s difficult to imagine The Handmaid’s Tale without Ane Crabtree,” said executive producer Warren Littlefield. “Ane puts her heart and soul into the magnificent costumes that she creates. Throughout America and now even throughout the world, women have chosen to wear the Handmaids’ costumes to give voice to their protests for women’s rights. It’s very fitting and gratifying that SCAD has chosen to honor her work. Bravo, Ane!”

The Handmaid’s Tale follows the story of a dystopian future that forces women into subservient roles after an uprising against the US government. The show is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel of the same title, which won the 1985 Governor General’s Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987. The series stars Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel and Samira Wiley, among others.

Through the School of Entertainment Arts, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in production design, among 14 disciplines focused on film, television and other entertainment-related industries. With a minor in costume design and a permanent costume collection, SCAD gives students unparalleled experience and access to costume’s role in filmmaking.

About SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university conferring bachelor’s and master’s degrees at distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors. Visit scad.edu. 

About SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film celebrates fashion as a universal language, garments as important conduits of identity and film as an immersive and memorable medium. Situated within the SCAD Atlanta campus at 1600 Peachtree St. NW, SCAD FASH focuses on the future of fashion design, connecting conceptual to historical principles of dress—whether ceremonial, celebratory or casual—and welcomes visitors of all ages to engage with dynamic exhibitions, captivating films and educationally enriching events.