Behind a discreet bottle green door on London's Holloway Road lies a treasure trove of fashion history, a costumier trusted by the brightest stars of British and Hollywood cinema. For six decades, Cosprop has been the secret weapon behind some of the most iconic on-screen looks, from Meryl Streep's white silk wedding suit in Out of Africa to the entire wardrobe of Downton Abbey.
The Mastermind Behind the Magic
At the helm of this sartorial institution is 85-year-old John Bright, who founded Cosprop in 1965. What began as a reluctant concession to his father's wishes—studying fashion design while dreaming of acting—blossomed into a career dressing legends. The company's work has graced 61 Oscar-nominated films, with a remarkable achievement in 2011 when four of the five Best Costume Design nominees featured their creations.
Now, a new exhibition at London's Fashion and Textile Museum, 'Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop', is shining a spotlight on this sparkling gem of British creativity. The exhibition runs until March 8, 2026, offering a rare glimpse into six decades of cinematic style.
A-List Clientele and Personal Friendships
The north London workshop is more than just a costumier; it's a place where lasting relationships are forged with some of the industry's biggest names. Helena Bonham Carter has been a regular client since her breakthrough role in A Room with a View, the film that earned John Bright his Oscar in 1987.
"Helena’s been in many, many times," says manager Chris Garlick. "If she’s doing anything vaguely period she likes to come here to be fitted by John. We had Cate Blanchett in a few weeks ago. John has fitted absolutely everybody you can name."
The costumier is currently working on the upcoming Wuthering Heights remake starring Margot Robbie and Tom Ford's new film, Cry to Heaven, which will feature Adele's acting debut. "We're expecting to see her in here soon," Chris confirms.
Preserving Fashion History, One Stitch at a Time
Cosprop specialises in period costume, with expertise stretching from the 18th century to the 1960s. Their vast collection includes everything from white cotton bonnets to 1920s-style brogues, all available for hire by film productions. The operation is part archive, part atelier, where skilled seamstresses and tailors painstakingly handstitch garments that may only appear fleetingly on screen.
Preservation is paramount. "We never allow productions to do alterations, they bring the actors to us," Chris explains. "If something gets cut, that's probably the end of that piece of clothing. We try to preserve everything. Some of the things we're hiring out now we made for costume dramas in the 1970s—and they're still going strong 50 years on."
The team faces constant battles against moths and the occasional forgetful actor. "They're not supposed to eat or drink when they're in costume, but we've caught a fair few stains," smiles alterations expert Julia Fallon.
Every garment is created using natural fibres true to their period, adhering to John's founding ethos. "As a result, nothing we make ever looks dated," Chris states proudly. Even items beyond repair contribute to future creations—every bead, sequin, and trim is carefully saved for reuse.
In an age dominated by streaming services, Cosprop has never been busier. Current top-secret projects include the HBO Harry Potter TV series (codenamed 'Dark Train'), The Gilded Age, and Ebenezer starring Johnny Depp, scheduled for release in November 2026.
Despite the Oscar wins and countless nominations, John Bright remains remarkably humble about his extraordinary career. "I don't think the Oscar makes a fantastic difference to one's life, or anything," he reflects. More important are the relationships with his first love, the theatre, and collaborators like Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep who share his passion for costume. That, and the perpetual battle to keep the moths at bay.
