Caitlyn Baird was born and raised in Climping, UK, where her love for sewing took root at an early age. This grew into a lifelong craft, and she went on to study Fashion Design at the University of Portsmouth before moving to Vancouver in 2022 to further hone her skills in Capilano University’s Costuming for Stage and Screen program. Since then, she has made an undeniable impact within the theatre scene, bringing creativity and precision to every project she works on. Her credits include Head of Wardrobe for West Side Story (CTORA) and Head of Costumes for Cabaret (LAF Productions), and she is currently working as the Costume Designer for Shrek the Musical with RCMT. Known for her technical skills and strong artistic vision, she has a remarkable ability to bring characters to life through costume. With passion at the heart of everything she does, Caitlyn is quickly establishing herself as a sought-after talent within Vancouver’s theatre community.
-Written by Octavia Bromilow – friend, musician and writer
My mornings are quite often full of unusual tasks. For example, organizing Lord Farquaad’s legs. In the world of theatre, that’s a totally normal thing to be doing before breakfast!Mid-morning, I typically shift into planning mode. I like to make detailed lists for fittings, writing down what’s needed and when by, as well as taking note of any costume bins to collect from storage.Making stops at storage units to pick up additional costumes for fittings may sound like a mundane task, but trying on the headpieces does make it more fun.I’m lucky enough to say that an important part of my job is thrifting! Multiple stores and countless racks are my norm. Shopping for theatre is part treasure hunt, part problem-solving – I’m not just looking for clothes, I’m looking for ways to create characters from pieces that may have otherwise been forgotten about.Sometimes, you have to stop and smell the roses – or in my case, the cherry blossoms. I always try to inject a bit of whimsy into my days, and pausing to appreciate the blossoms in full bloom feels like just that.Although time-consuming, fittings are one of my favourite ways to spend an evening. During a fitting, I’ll work on multiple characters, adjusting and refining each look. It’s possibly the most rewarding part of the job – seeing the components of the costumes come to life.Another day, another fabric shop stop! I honestly feel like fabric shops are my second home at this point – I’m constantly stepping in to pick up materials for alterations, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.Costuming is certainly no typical nine-to-five, and no two days ever look quite the same. Some are chaotic, and at times overwhelming; others are quieter – filled with alterations and careful planning. Sometimes, it’s all those things at once! But that’s the joy of it, and it’s why I love what I do.
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Which ‘hood’ are you in?
I’m currently living in North Vancouver!
What do you do?
I’m a seamstress by trade, and I use my skills to create costumes for theatre and film.
What are you currently working on?
I’m recently worked as the Costume Designer for Shrek the Musical, which ran from April 18th until May 3rd.
Where can we find your work?
You can find my portfolio here. I’m also on Instagram.
Jocelyne loves street art photography, traveling, discovering different cultures, and trying foods she can barely pronounce. Spirituality and giving back matter deeply to her, leading her to volunteer both locally and abroad, experiences she will never forget. She’s drawn to books and documentaries that explore how society works and how people think, especially real-life stories that don’t always make the headlines. That curiosity led her to this work, where she creates space for creative, hardworking people to share their stories and inspire others.
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