Published: 22 August 2025
Costumes of Authority: How designers bring the past to life
Author: Magdalena Miszewska
Over a thousand years ago, images of Nubian dignitaries in lavishly decorated robes adorned the walls of the Faras Cathedral in northeast Africa. Today, we can see these garments up close—carefully recreated with attention to every detail. In the “Science Share Talks” video, Agnieszka Jacobson-Cielecka, program director at the School of Form, and archaeologist Karel Innemée from the University of Warsaw discuss the process of reconstructing these medieval outfits. Watch the full conversation and discover the story behind the project.
Exploring history through the lens of design
The research project "Costumes of Authority. The Image of Royalty and Clergy in Christian Nubia" shows what happens when archaeological discoveries spark the imagination of designers. The idea originated from wall paintings uncovered in the ruins of the Faras Cathedral by Polish archaeologists in the 1960s. Using them as a source, the design team from SWPS University's School of Form and archaeologists from the University of Warsaw reconstructed the garments once worn by Nubian rulers and clergy.
Want to learn more about the project's background? Read our earlier article:
Reconstructing Faras historical garments: A unique show in Paris
The costumes were first unveiled to the public last fall at the Louvre in Paris. Later, they traveled to Berlin's Bode Museum for the exhibition "Dress to Impress. Reconstructions of Medieval Robes from Nubia", and then to the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw
Behind the seams
In the “Science Share Talks” video, Dr. Agnieszka Jacobson-Cielecka and Dr. Karel Innemée take the viewers behind the scenes of the project. They explain how experts from different fields worked together to transform two-dimensional frescoes into wearable costumes.
The conversation touches on the choice of fabrics, colors, and construction techniques—but also on the creative risks involved in reconstructing outfits known only from faint paintings.
Why watch?
You will learn not only how the reconstruction of these ancient costumes was carried out, but also how creative interdisciplinary collaboration can make history visible, tangible, and relevant today.
Watch the full conversation here:
Participants
Karel Innemée
Archaeologist | University of Warsaw