What Fans Never Noticed About The Capes On Game Of Thrones
Although HBO's "Game of Thrones" received an immense amount of criticism and backlash during its last few seasons, one of the few aspects of the series that never lacked for quality was the show's excellent wardrobe. From the very first episode up until the series finale, each and every costume that we saw throughout "Game of Thrones" was crafted with the finest attention to detail – embodying the characteristics of many different characters, civilizations, and great houses.
From the striking white-gold armor of the Kingsguard to the ferocious Hound's head helm of Sandor Clegane (Rory McCann), every costume in the series evokes a distinct sense of culture and history that makes the world feel alive and lived-in. One of the most iconic pieces of clothing that we see throughout the series is the massive fur capes worn by people in northern Westeros –- especially members of the Night's Watch like Jon Snow (Kit Harington). In the world of "Game of Thrones," these giant furs are no doubt won from the wolves and bears that prowl around the wilderness on the other side of The Wall. Though in real life, you actually might find one of these capes at a popular retailer.
The fur cloaks worn in the series are actually IKEA rugs
During a 2016 interview with the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, costume designer Michele Clapton, who worked from 2011 to 2019 on "Game of Thrones," revealed that the iconic fur capes from "Game of Thrones" are actually made from IKEA rugs (via CNBC). "We cut and shaved them and added strong leather straps," Clapton explained "I want the audience to almost smell the costumes." While Clapton did not specify exactly what kind of rug the team used to create the capes, an IKEA Facebook post from 2017 suggests that at least one of the rugs used was a sheepskin SKOLD rug, which is currently retailing for just €39.99. That's just one of multiple rugs that might have been used to create the fur capes on "Game of Thrones."
Considering the exorbitant budget that "Game of Thrones" was given during its later seasons, to know that they used something as commonplace and affordable as an IKEA rug for these costumes might sound unbelievable — especially since said costumes look so authentic and believable. Indeed, anybody out there hoping to cosplay as Jon Snow or another member of the Night's Watch ought to rejoice in knowing that they don't have to spend a ridiculous amount of money on an authentic fur cloak since these IKEA rugs do the trick just fine. Cutting the rugs and transforming them into capes, however, might be another story.