‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’: Where You Can Find Indiana Jones’ Iconic Hat, Jacket, and Whip
Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most beloved films in history. It launched the successful Indiana Jones franchise that, alongside Star Wars, helped propel Harrison Ford to superstardom. Individually, it’s also regarded as a cinematic masterpiece of the action-adventure genre. There are so many elements of the film that made it resonate with movie fans — the gorgeous shooting locations, the whip-smart dialogue, and the well-choreographed fight scenes, to name a few. Another element of the film that stood out is the costume design and Indy’s costume in particular. Read on to find out more about Indiana Jones’ iconic hat, jacket, and whip and where you can find them today.
Indiana Jones became synonymous with his brown fedora
You can’t hear the name Indiana Jones without thinking of a tattered fedora, a weatherbeaten shirt and jacket, and his whip. As far as movie costumes go, it’s one of the most famous in history. According to IMDb, each piece of his wardrobe has a story behind it.
Ford wore two different hats in Raiders. Most famous is his brown “work” hat. This is the one you’ll see him wearing in most of his globetrotting scenes. The second is a grey dress hat that he wears when boarding a plane departing for Nepal, as well as when he’s speaking with Marion Ravenwood in the film’s final scene on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Indy’s famous hat actually came from Savile Row in London, at a well-regarded hat shop run by Herbert Johnson; the hat was known as the “poet” model. To get the iconic “aged” look, costume designer Deborah Nadoolman twisted the hat, while both she and Harrison Ford sat on it to make it look as if it had been worn many times.
If you’re looking to buy the original hat, you’re out of luck — it’s currently on display in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
What’s the story behind Indiana Jones’ whip?
Dr. Jones’ wardrobe wasn’t the only iconic element of the character’s presentation. He also had the trusty whip, which often helped him get out of a jam when he wasn’t quickly dispatching bad guys using a gun. The design team provided the film with over 30 bullwhips. These whips were anywhere from six to 16 feet long.
For anyone looking to buy the original prop whip, there’s more bad news. His original whip, made out of kangaroo-hide, was sold at the world-famous Christie’s auction house in London according to the Christie’s website. It went for a whopping $43,000 in December 1999.
Indiana Jones’ leather jacket wasn’t as old as it looked
Even in the hot desert sun, Indy was often seen sporting a leather jacket throughout the film series. Much like his hat, this needed a little work done on it as well.
The leather jacket worn in Raiders was actually brand new, with the costume department beating it up to make it appear older than it was. The production team had 10 jackets overall — the backups were in case they needed replacements, or for stunt takes. Along with Dr. Jones’ hat, the original iconic leather jacket also isn’t on sale; it too rests in the Smithsonian.
While it’s just about impossible to get your hands on the original hat, jacket, and whip unless you have a sizable fortune at your disposal (or have a really good friend at the Smithsonian), you could always recreate the costume with realistic-looking facsimiles found online. Spruce Crafts has a guide to creating your very own Indiana Jones Halloween costume. It’s not the same as the real thing, but it’s close.
