Schindler’s List Used Real People’s Clothing From 1930s-1940s Poland
The task of costume design for historical epics is immensely challenging, particularly when involving 20,000 extras, as was the case for “Schindler’s List.” The film’s costume designer ingeniously decided to source authentic clothing by placing ads asking the public to sell garments from the 1930s and ’40s.
Given the economic hardship in Poland, many were willing to part with their vintage clothing, significantly reducing costs for the production and enhancing the film’s authenticity in a way that might not have been achievable through conventional means.
