
The Costume Designer Behind 80+ Productions Shares Her Story | Icey Parks
From Black Women Amplified Podcast by Monica Wisdom
April 2, 2026 · 49 min · Season 8 · Episode 167
About this episode
Icey Parks shares her 30-year journey in costume design across film, television, and theater, highlighting her impactful work and the importance of storytelling through costumes.
For more than 30 years, Icey Parks has been a quiet force across film, television, and theater. She began behind the stages of Broadway, running wardrobe departments and shaping how stories are told through costume. That foundation carried her into a career spanning more than 80 projects. You may not know her name, but you have seen her work. From American Gangster to Nurse Jackie, Oz, Luke Cage, and Pose, her imprint is woven into the culture. In this rare conversation, Icey opens up about her journey, her discipline, and what it takes to sustain a career behind the scenes at the highest level. We also talk about her latest project, The Color Purple, produced by Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, and the responsibility of helping bring powerful stories to life. Icey does not do interviews, which makes this moment a true gift. This is a look into the life of a woman whose work has always spoken for itself. In This Episode, We Talk About: Building a 30-year career behind the scenes in film, television, and theater Starting in Broadway wardrobe and developing a creative foundation The role of costume in storytelling and character development Working across iconic productions and…
People in this episode
Host: Monica Wisdom
Guest: Icey Parks
Topics covered
- costume design
- film industry
- theater
- storytelling
- career longevity
- women in film
Keywords
- costume designer
- Icey Parks
- film and television
- Broadway
- The Color Purple
- storytelling
- cultural impact
- career in arts
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg
Books & works: The Color Purple, American Gangster, Nurse Jackie, Oz, Luke Cage, Pose
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