Designing the Wardrobe for Joyland: A Journey of Identity and Expression

 

Designing costumes that capture a character’s essence and journey is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my work. When I was given the opportunity to design the costumes for Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq, I knew it would be a deeply impactful project. The film explores themes of gender, identity, and societal expectations, and my role was to bring these powerful ideas to life through the characters' wardrobes, using fashion to express their emotional and cultural stories.

The challenge was to design costumes that balanced tradition with modernity, reflecting the cultural and emotional depth of each character. For Alina Khan’s transgender character, for example, her wardrobe needed to express both vulnerability and strength. Similarly, Ali Junejo’s character required costumes that highlighted his internal struggle between family expectations and personal desires.

The color palettes, textures, and details of each costume were chosen to align with the emotional journey of the characters. 

Watching Joyland receive international recognition—like the Queer Palm at Cannes—was incredibly rewarding. It was a reminder of how deeply clothing can influence storytelling and character development. I’m proud to have contributed to a film that’s making a global impact and starting important conversations.