Ruth E. Carter: An imaginative and visionary voice whose name commands instant prestige beyond measure while developing a reputation for fashioning threads that boost films to breaking billion-dollar grossing status. More than this, our community has fallen in love with the person whose dexterity weaves definitive stories through sartorial threads and time-honored bodies of work that reflect our realities through the sharpest costuming.
With her recent Oscar nomination for her exceptional work in the now-cult classic film Sinners (2025), Carter has proved she is not to be messed with. Her eye for detail and historical accuracy further position her as an artistic vessel whose contributions cement her greatness in the Black pop cultural canon. Furthermore, her example is a fierce source of inspiration, reminding us that hard work, coupled with care and intention, always carries more weight than fad-based accomplishments.
Ahead of the 2026 Oscars, following an inspirational conversation about innovation and purpose at Morgan Stanley’s Go Red Women’s Leadership Breakfast, EBONY asks the 5-time Oscar-nominated costume designer about her journey to becoming the most decorated Black woman in Oscars history.
EBONY: Congratulations on your recent Oscar nomination. What have been the most beautiful affirmations you’ve received with this news?
Ruth E. Carter: I heard from Halle Berry, the first woman to win Best Actress at The Oscars; she sent me a bottle of champagne. Coleman Domingo also sent me flowers. My house had so many flowers that I started putting them out on the patio. Every time one came, I thought, “Another one? Oh, now I can make a garden.” [laughs] But that is always really a pleasant surprise to receive. It’s really wonderful that people feel like I made an impact.
You’ve talked about the early stages of prep you go through when starting a project, such as researching the history of the era you are developing work for. What are some other key things in your creative process that you feel have been like a bona fide North Star when you’re creating and working on a project?
You know, I’m not on my own island [when creating]. I’m a good listener because I love being around other creatives. I love having the opportunity to collaborate. As I said, I’ve worked with some brilliant directors, from Ryan Coogler, Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, and Gina Prince-Bythewood—the list goes on. I think the takeaway for me is that I have something to offer, and that there’s something for me to gain and glean from their vision. It’s not my vision; I add to it. It’s the direction that they want to go in when they see their film on the big screen, and I feed into that. They give me the playbook, and I take the ball to the end zone.
Toward the end of your panel conversation this morning, you talked about how art can heal, which- Yeah. … is, uh, so true. What are some misunderstandings you feel that folks have about the power of art that we need to be reminded of?
Well, we [as a society] don’t think we need it. We don’t think we need art; art is erased from school and education, yet it is in everything. I take history and bring it into costumes, creating costumes that also tell a story in the art form of film. If you don’t think that’s important and that we have other ways of learning about ourselves, then you don’t understand the power of art.
Part of your story involves preparing to drop out of Hampton University in your senior year out of fear about how your future would shape up. As a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, to Hampton University, Hollywood and The Oscars: What can you just continue to share about perseverance and continuing to move forward despite the odds and despite what you might even have told yourself?
My advice to the next gen is, like I said, don’t underestimate your power. That little thing that burns inside of you is the thing that you need to pay attention to. What you produce as a young talent may not be perfect. You might think you’re not what you want to be at first. It’s more important in here. And if you can evaluate yourself and keep pushing through, you will achieve greatness.