KRISTI WOOD

​​Kristi spent her childhood outside of St. Louis, Missouri, a place where she did not quite fit in outside of art classes. She excelled in painting, dyeing, and ceramics. Her interest in sewing began at an early age watching her grandmother create stunning quilts. Soon after entering high school, she was making costumes for the theater department. All these pursuits led to a move to New York City where she began her costume education and career.

 

Hard work, exceptional training, and many notable mentorships paid off over her sixteen years pounding the pavements of NYC. The majority of her career was spent in the costume departments of the Metropolitan Opera, numerous Broadway shows, a few television productions like All My Children, and various dance companies. One standout memory is making and repairing costumes for Ballet Trockadero, and sometimes aggressively stuffing feathers into a swan's tutu. “If you know, you know,” she says. While in NYC, Kristi was a proud member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 764. She has worked with many brilliant designers and costumers throughout her career and cherishes those relationships.

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An opportunity brought Kristi to Chicago, where she joined the Lyric Opera as Costume Production Supervisor for New Operas. There, she did what she does best: sourcing materials for designers, managing budgets, overseeing costume builds, and bringing each new story to life. She came to love Chicago and found herself—closer to family, surrounded by great people, and immersed in work that felt both abundant and meaningful.

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Chicago also rekindled Kristi’s connection to film. She returned to her roots in painting, dyeing, and textiles, taking on projects as a Textile Artist for productions such as Widows (dir. Steve McQueen, costumes by Jenny Eagan), The Killer (dir. David Fincher, costumes by Cate Adams), Lovecraft Country, Fargo Season 4, Justified, Utopia, and Paper Girls. She transferred her union membership to I.A.T.S.E. Local 769 and continues building a diverse portfolio in both stage and screen.

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With her experience and insight into the costuming business, Kristi observed that the Chicago market had few local options to turn when it came to costume production. She quickly realized a fully equipped, properly staffed costume shop located in The Heart of Chicago was necessary. "The talent and expertise have always been here… just waiting for you."

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And with no further ado, she presents to you: The Costume Shop.