Avatar: The Way of Water - Metkayina Costume

From 2016 – 2022 Wētā Workshop collaborated with James Cameron, Jon Landau, and their team on 'Avatar: The Way of Water'.

For the Workshop, this was a welcome return to the world of Pandora. Led by Deborah L. Scott (Costume Designer), our Concept Design and Manufacture teams worked side by side to create custom materials, fibres and techniques that informed the evolution of these character's costume and prop designs.

Searching for safe harbour, the Sully family make their way to the reef islands of Pandora. We are introduced to a new Na’vi clan, the Metkayina, who have made their home at the water’s edge amongst giant mangrove roots.

This new environment and way of life provided us with a whole new set of resources and materials from which to take inspiration from. We were also able to draw upon what we already knew about the Na’vi culture from our time on the first film to distinguish this clan’s look in relation to their geography and proximity to the ocean.

Naturally, the designers used motifs such as seashells, coral, seaweed and paua. We closely collaborated with our textiles department, re-integrating manufactured samples into our concepts as they were built to ensure a believable and buildable design.

For example, Ronal's costume (#5), the fierce Tsahik (shaman) of the clan, was a true team effort. Our Wētā Workshop Technician, Nadine Jaggi, created a cascading top made from iridescent paua shells for ceremonial duties. Marly Doyle created a flowing seaweed skirt, featuring seagrass, custom seashells and Na’vi reef-flower petals. and Jasmin van Lith created a medicine pouch to contain the essential herbs, puncturing quills and other medicinals for healing.

Art Director: Stephen Crowe
Na'vi Costume Art Director: Flo Foxworthy
Production Managers: Yalda Armian & Tasha Guillot
Design project coordinators: Elspeth Grant & Milli Griffin