Misha Japanwala brings Pakistani artistry to The Odyssey
Pakistani artist and fashion designer Misha Japanwala has achieved a major international milestone, collaborating with the creative team behind director Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster epic The Odyssey to design two custom sculptural pieces worn by Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o.
In Nolan’s cinematic adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek poem, Nyong’o portrays the iconic role of Helen of Troy—mythology’s “face that launched a thousand ships.” The collaboration came about directly through Nyong’o, who previously wore a custom breastplate designed by Japanwala to the 2023 Tony Awards and personally recommended the Pakistani designer to the film’s Oscar-nominated costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick.
Speaking about the creative process, Mirojnick explained that capturing the essence of Helen of Troy required balancing an enigmatic, regal presence with the film’s grounded realism. To achieve this look, Japanwala created an asymmetrical neck and shoulder plate crafted in bronze, designed to resemble a sculpted piece of classical statuary. Nyong’o wears the metallic structure as a capelet layered over a draped gown during a pivotal scene where Helen hosts Telemachus (played by Tom Holland) in Sparta.
For Helen’s final scene in the film, Japanwala designed a second piece: a gleaming bronze choker paired with a heavy chainmail caftan-gown. Taking to social media to celebrate the announcement, Japanwala expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to contribute her signature body-casting artistry to a monumental cinematic production:
”The Odyssey — the honor of a lifetime to contribute to Christopher Nolan’s vision and work with the legend Ellen Mirojnick and Sara O’Donnell to create these two very special sculptural works that adorn Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy! Thank you Lupita for championing my work, and to the costume designers for trusting me to bring these pieces to life. A dream come true to be a tiny part of this monumental film and cinematic history.”
This high-profile Hollywood feature marks the latest international success for Japanwala, whose wearable sculptures and body castings reject conventional beauty standards by celebrating organic forms, scarring, and individuality. The Parsons School of Design graduate previously gained global attention for creating custom metallic body pieces for international celebrities, including rapper Cardi B’s viral pregnancy reveal and supermodel Gigi Hadid.
With The Odyssey dominating global box offices, Japanwala’s striking designs represent a proud moment for contemporary Pakistani artistry, showcasing homegrown creative talent on one of cinema’s biggest stages.
