Black Panther's nation of Wakanda may be fictional, but its style is rooted in real history. Not only did costumer Ruth E. Carter (Selma) need to outfit individual characters — including the Black Panther himself, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) — she also had to establish a cohesive look for an entire country, one that's both futuristic and steeped in ancient African tradition. To do so, the Oscar-nominated designer researched tribal fashion from every corner of the continent, studying patterns, colors, and silhouettes. "I wanted to bring that aesthetic to their costumes so that we knew when we saw them that they are from Africa."

Ahead of Black Panther's release on Feb. 16, Carter walks EW through some of the film's most notable looks, revealing how she draped and armored an entire futuristic nation.