A new exhibition at Prague’s Galerie Mánes offers an in-person look at more than 80 costumes from the Amazon/Sony series The Wheel of Time, many of them crafted by Czech artists during the show’s multi-year production in the country. The display, titled Fashion & Fantasy, runs through Dec. 5 and marks the first time such a comprehensive selection of costumes from the series has been presented to the public.
The exhibition opens shortly after the conclusion of production on the show’s most recent season, which was again filmed largely in the Czech Republic. For local viewers and industry professionals, the display highlights the scale of Czech involvement in an international fantasy property that has become one of Amazon’s largest scripted productions.
Curated as an immersive walk-through, the exhibition aims to replicate the visual diversity of the world depicted in The Wheel of Time, guiding visitors through a sequence of environments with theatrical lighting, sculptural displays and examples of the design process behind each garment.
Costumes shaped by a Prague-based team
The exhibition’s focus is the work of British costume designer Sharon Gilham, who led the show’s costume department throughout nearly four years of filming in Prague. Gilham oversaw a team of more than 170 artists, most of them Czech specialists in tailoring, dyeing, leatherwork, armor fabrication and textile design. Their combined output resulted in hundreds of bespoke garments for characters ranging from royalty to soldiers and nomadic clans, many of which appear in the exhibition.
According to Gilham, the display offers a closer look at details that are rarely visible on screen. “There are many beautiful, hand-sewn costumes that appeared only briefly or were barely seen,” she said at the Prague opening. “This is an opportunity to appreciate each detail up close.”
Material sourcing for the production ranged widely. Gilham and her team purchased fabrics at local markets and vintage shops across Europe and Asia, supplementing them with custom textiles created through hand dyeing, screen printing, fabric painting and devoré techniques. Some pieces required more extensive work, including the ceremonial cloak worn by the character Siuan Sanche, which was reproduced from a vintage fabric that had to be cut apart and replicated by hand.
The exhibition features garments associated with multiple cultures depicted in the series. Gilham recommends particular attention to the ornate costumes worn by the Seanchan—specifically Lady Suroth and Lord Turak—as well as pieces for the characters Morgase and Siuan Sanche. Many of these garments involve layered construction, custom embroidery, leather appliqué and bespoke accessories.
Leather specialist Rob Goodwin, who contributed to several key designs, describes the project as one of the most challenging of his career. He said he aimed to create ceremonial insignia for the Seanchan leadership that would convey a sense of power and intimidation, using materials designed to resemble gilded leather and bone. “I wanted the pieces to look as if they were made from the remains of exotic creatures we don’t know,” he said.
An immersive six-room installation at Galerie Mánes
Fashion & Fantasy is organized into six themed rooms, each representing a cultural or narrative environment from The Wheel of Time. Visitors move through spaces that combine costuming, lighting design and curated sound elements, with costumes displayed at close range rather than behind glass. The approach is intended to emphasize craftsmanship and encourage detailed examination of textiles, stitching, accessories and sculptural elements.
The scenography also incorporates sketches, prototypes and production materials to illustrate the various stages of costume development. These include early-line drawings, fabric samples, 3D-printed components and interviews with designers and craftspeople who contributed to the series. The aim, according to organizers, is to present a comprehensive view of the artistic labor behind a large-scale fantasy production.
Co-organizer Lenka Koutníková said the exhibition’s layout invites comparison to the well-known Harry Potter Experience in Leavesden Studios in the U.K., though the Prague display was designed as a stand-alone installation. “It’s clear that this is not a typical glass-case exhibit,” she said. “Costumes are highlighted with theatrical lighting, and visitors can move freely among them, seeing details a camera can never capture.”
The exhibition appeals not only to fans of the series and the original novels by Robert Jordan, but also to fashion and costume designers, textile artists and film students. Many of the pieces—crafted for actors including Rosamund Pike, Josha Stradowski, Marcus Rutherford, Daniel Henney and others—represent couture-level work that blends traditional methods with digital fabrication, laser cutting and specialist dye processes.
For the Czech film industry, the exhibition underscores the country’s ongoing role as a production hub for international television. The Wheel of Time has been filmed primarily in and around Prague since its first season, drawing on local studios, workshop facilities and crews whose work is now visible in a dedicated public setting.
Fashion & Fantasy is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Galerie Mánes through Dec. 5. Tickets are available through the exhibition’s official website.
