About
Western Costume Company has been an industry cornerstone since 1912, operating as the go-to resource for costume professionals working in film, television, theater, commercials, and fashion. Located in North Hollywood, CA, the all-in-one facility spans a massive headquarters housing millions of costumes and accessories. The rental inventory covers virtually every era and genre — from prehistory through the 1990s and beyond — spread across eight miles of organized racks. When the perfect piece isn't on the floor, Western Costume's four custom workrooms can build it from scratch. Expert milliners, tailors, and shoemakers collaborate with clients to bring any creative vision to life. Beyond rentals and custom fabrication, the on-site Supply Store stocks everything a costume department needs: aging and dyeing materials, laundry and cleaning supplies, hangers, sewing notions, and more — all available for online purchase and shipping. A research library filled with dress-related publications and a fabric store round out the full-service offering. Western Costume also houses the 'Early Halloween' collection — thousands of authentic pieces from the 1920s–1980s — and regularly acquires new collections to expand its unrivaled inventory. From prep to wrap, the facility supports every stage of a costume crew's workflow, making it the definitive one-stop shop for entertainment industry costume professionals.
Key Features
- Eight Miles of Rental Stock: Browse millions of costumes spanning every era from prehistory to the future, all organized across a massive North Hollywood warehouse.
- Custom Made-to-Order Workrooms: Four specialized workrooms staffed by experienced tailors, milliners, and shoemakers who can craft bespoke costumes to exact production requirements.
- On-Site & Online Supply Store: A comprehensive supply store offering aging and dyeing materials, sewing supplies, hangers, and cleaning products — available in person or shipped nationwide.
- Research Library & Fabric Store: An extensive library of dress-related publications and an on-site fabric store to support research and sourcing at every stage of production.
- Historic 'Early Halloween' Collection: Thousands of authentic costume pieces from the 1920s to the 1980s, originating from a legacy New York collection, available for rental or reference.
Use Cases
- A costume designer on a major studio film pulls period-accurate 1940s wardrobe from Western Costume's rental racks and commissions bespoke hero pieces in the custom workrooms.
- A television production's costume department stocks their kit for the season using the Western Costume Supply Store's aging materials, hangers, and sewing supplies — ordering online and shipping to set.
- A theater company researches historical dress using the on-site library and sources specialty fabrics from the fabric store before renting supporting costumes for a period production.
- A commercial stylist selects hero looks from the vast rental inventory to create a visually distinct campaign shoot without needing to source from multiple vendors.
- An independent film production with a tight timeline leverages Western Costume's all-in-one facility — research, fabric, rental, and fabrication — to keep the entire costume workflow in a single location.
Pros
- Unmatched Inventory Scale: As the largest costume house in the US, Western Costume offers depth and breadth of selection that no competitor can match — millions of pieces across every period and genre.
- True One-Stop Shop: Rental stock, custom fabrication, research library, fabric store, and supply store are all under one roof, minimizing logistical overhead for costume departments.
- Century-Long Industry Expertise: Over 100 years serving Hollywood means deep institutional knowledge and trusted relationships across the film and television industry.
Cons
- Physical Location Required for Rentals: In-person access to the warehouse is necessary for browsing and pulling rental stock, which limits convenience for productions outside the Los Angeles area.
- Pricing Geared Toward Professionals: Services and pricing are structured for professional productions and industry crew members, making it less accessible for independent or hobbyist users.
- No Real-Time Online Inventory Search: The website does not appear to offer a searchable online catalog of rental stock, requiring direct contact or an in-person visit to assess availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can rent from Western Costume?
Western Costume primarily serves professional costume designers, costumers, and stylists working in film, television, theater, commercials, and fashion. Productions and costume crews are their core clientele.
Can Western Costume build custom costumes?
Yes. Western Costume operates four custom workrooms staffed by tailors, milliners, and shoemakers who can fabricate made-to-order costumes, gowns, suits, hats, shoes, and accessories for any production.
Does Western Costume ship supplies?
Yes. While rental stock requires an in-person visit, the Supply Store can ship merchandise — including aging materials, cleaning supplies, sewing notions, and hangers — anywhere in the country.
Where is Western Costume located?
Western Costume is located at 11041 Vanowen St, North Hollywood, CA 91605. They can be reached by phone at 818.760.0900.
How extensive is the rental inventory?
The inventory spans eight miles of rental racks, covering historical periods from prehistory through the 1990s and beyond, including specialty collections like the 'Early Halloween' collection of 1920s–1980s authentic pieces.
