Universal Studios Operations Group announced the opening of the Universal Production Services Costume Department in New York. The newly renovated facility in Long Island City provides costume rental services for features, television, streaming, independents, theatre and commercials in New York and across the East Coast.
The costume rental space has been customized for New York-based costume professionals with enclosed loading docks and parking. The inventory includes assets from the 1950s to the present, police, SWAT, and FBI uniforms, hospital wardrobes and much more. With a comfortable client lounge, well organized racks, and spacious fitting rooms, Universal Production Services NY has been tailored to its customers.
“New York’s thriving film and television production is adding jobs and businesses, including the new Universal Studios costume department, and creating economic growth throughout the state,” said Empire State Development president, CEO and commissioner Howard Zemsky.
“We’re excited to offer Universal’s high level of customer service and a handpicked asset collection to the New York market,” said Poppy Cannon-Reese, director, Universal Studios Costume. “We’re also enhancing the rental experience for our customers with standardized pricing and a two-day approval period.”
Universal Studios Costume updates their inventory regularly with new assets acquired from features and television, offering services to costumers and designers in all areas of production. A wide-ranging collection of items, including armor and specialty costumes, is also available for shipment from the Universal City warehouse in Los Angeles. In addition, Universal Studios Costume offers its Digital Design Workroom. Garments can be created in an online 3D environment using talent measurements, fabric type and color, and overall fit. The software simulates draping, accounting for fabric weight and texture. The 360 design files can be emailed for remote approval and are then converted into a pattern that can be printed on-site.
Civil rights groups call on major corporations to stick with DEI programs
A broad group of civil rights organizations called on the CEOs and board members of major companies Thursday to maintain their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have come under attack online and in lawsuits.
An open letter signed by 19 organizations and directed at the leaders of Fortune 1000 companies said companies that abandon their DEI programs are shirking their fiduciary responsibility to employees, consumers and shareholders.
The civil rights groups included the NAACP, the National Organization for Women, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
"Diversity, equity and inclusion programs, policies, and practices make business-sense and they're broadly popular among the public, consumers, and employees," their statement read. "But a small, well-funded, and extreme group of right-wing activists is attempting to pressure companies into abandoning their DEI programs."
Companies such as Ford, Lowes, John Deere, Molson Coors and Harley-Davidson recently announced they would pull back on their diversity, equity and inclusion policies after facing pressure from conservative activists who were emboldened by recent victories in the courtroom.
Many major corporations have been examining their diversity programs in the wake of a Supreme Court decision last year that declared race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions unconstitutional. Dozens of cases have been filed making similar arguments about employers. Critics of DEI programs say the initiatives provide benefits to people of one race or sexual orientation while excluding others.
In their letter, the civil rights organizations, which also included... Read More