Antourage Productions bandleader Varma Leo Lakhan said his inspiration for his prize-winning costumes comes from giving natural elements dramatic and macabre representations. This ethos has led to his winning and placing in several kings and queens competitions over the eight years the band has been in existence.
In 2024, six of his costumes were entered in the Carnival kings and queens competitions, with all but one placing in the first three spots of each competition. This was the first time he had six costumes in the competition, as he was also asked by officials of Carnival band Ombre Mas to design their king and queen costumes.
In the kings competition, his designs Xhirkomak – Lord of The Underworld and Guardian of the Mystical Realm, played by Joseph Lewis and Arif Grantum respectively, placed first and third. His king costume Zeus – King of the Gods, blew over in the strong winds on semi-final night.
In the queens competition, his designs Queen Tarantula, Flight of the Monarch Butterfly, and Azalea the Serpent Sorceress played by Roxanne Omalo, Dana Ramepersad and Savitri Holassie respectively, came first, second, and third.
Lakhan said his inspiration comes from dramatising elements of nature.
[caption id="attachment_1065946" align="alignnone" width="678"] Antourage Productions bandleader Leo Lakhan -[/caption]
“I will look at anything, for example a butterfly, and yes it has four wings, but I will transform it into something with 15-30 wings. I try to jump out of the box and recreate it to my vision, and I think this catches the judges’ attention, because I don’t give you what it’s supposed to be, but my imagination of it on a different level.
“I find the more macabre designs get attention, a lot of them are macabre or of the underworld, they have a dramatic sense of aura and creates an element of what it’s supposed to be when crossing the stage.”
The 37-year-old also gets inspiration from movies, resulting in costumes like 2024’s Zeus – King of the Gods and others like Medusa – The Last Gaze.
“The costume for Roxanne is Arachne. Everyone knows what a spider is but I transformed it into a half woman, half spider. Joseph’s costume was like the keeper of souls and time when death comes, and has an hourglass in their hands.
“I also create an elaborate storyline for them. Sometimes I add things like pyrotechnics, especially on finals night, which adds to the costume and brings it to life. I don’t think I would change much about what I do because if something works for me, I would continue along that pathway.”
Lakhan’s costumes are known for being large, and he said he cannot design a small costume, even when he tries.
“I set my sights on building a 15-20 foot costume and then when I mount it, it crosses 25 feet.”
He said designing the costumes is challenging, especially when working on several costumes, as he does not draw them.
“I cannot draw to save my life. I build them off the top of my head, I will have a part in mind, and I’ll work with my team and explain to them how it’s g
