Downton Abbey's wardrobe: inside the costume house that clothes your favourite period dramas

How do costume makers create an authentic historical silhouette? Why do they deliberately age brand-new clothes? In a behind-the-scenes tour, HistoryExtra's Lauren Good meets Mia Walldén, Cosprop's Operations Director, and they explore the vast costume warehouse

Published: November 4, 2026 at 9:37 AM

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Step inside Cosprop, the extraordinary costume house behind some of the world's most beloved period dramas. Founded by Oscar-winning costume designer John Bright in 1965, Cosprop has spent more than 60 years bringing history to life on screen. Today, its remarkable collection contains approximately 400,000 items, including original historical garments, accessories and costumes created for film and television.

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How do costume makers create an authentic historical silhouette? Why do they deliberately age brand-new clothes? And what happens when a television character needs exactly the same dress for another series, but the original is no longer available?

In this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, HistoryExtra's Lauren Good meets Mia Walldén, Cosprop's Operations Director, and they explore the vast costume warehouse, uncovering the extraordinary craftsmanship involved in recreating the clothes of the past. Elsewhere, costumier Clara Drumez offers a closer look at outfits worn by Maggie Smith and Michelle Dockery in Downton Abbey.

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Cosprop is currently holding an exhibition, Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop, at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh, where you can see for yourself the most iconic costumes they've created. It runs until 16 January 2027.

Authors

Lauren GoodSenior content producer

Lauren Good is a senior content producer at HistoryExtra

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