In Pluribus, an alien virus has tethered the world’s population into a peaceful, polite and compliant hivemind — all except 13 people, including the impeccably dressed Mauritanian playboy, Mr. Diabaté (Samba Schutte). He’s reveling in his best life, free of the financial worries, societal boundaries and prejudices he would have faced prior to The Joining.
“He is very hedonistic and pleasure-driven, so when he realizes that he can have anything he wants, he’s not thinking about world peace,” says Pluribus costume designer Jennifer L. Bryan. “His idea is, ‘Every fantasy and wish is going to be granted unequivocally, so I want to dress the part of a dandy, a pleasure-seeking guy.’ ”
For Diabaté’s elaborate bespoke suits, show creator Vince Gilligan’s go-to costume designer looked to the Congolese Sapeurs, whose dandyism — rooted in colonial influence and reframed as postcolonial self-expression — centers on vibrant, designer label-filled sartorial rebellion. In contrast, unless The Joined’s hivemind humans are performing one of Diabaté’s dream scenarios, they rely on shared, reused clothing — regardless of style or culture — for functionality and survival.
Ensconced in Elvis Presley’s actual Las Vegas penthouse suite, Diabaté assembles The Joined to bring his ambitious Casino Royale vision to life. In a vintage white tuxedo, he runs the table, while a cast of cosplaying characters, including a Breakfast at Tiffany’s Audrey Hepburn and The King, fulfill their glam ’60s-era caricatures: decked out in mod minis, glittering gowns and all the accoutrements. When Diabaté has had enough, The Joined abruptly stop, obediently remove all their jewelry and costumes, and begin cleanup duties. “The curtains close on the fantasy,” says Bryan.
