Royal Wardrobe: The monarch's wardrobe was a vast collection of clothing used for various occasions, including theatrical performances. Actors from companies performing at court or under royal patronage might be granted access to these costumes.
Wealthy Patrons: Wealthy individuals or noblemen who supported theatrical troupes would often provide them with financial assistance and resources, including costumes. These costumes might be new or repurposed from the patron's own wardrobe.
Theater Companies: Theater companies themselves sometimes maintained a collection of costumes for actors to use in their productions. These costumes could be shared among different actors and productions.
Renting and Tailoring: Actors might also rent or buy costumes from specialized shops or tailors who catered to the theatrical world. These shops could provide ready-made costumes or create custom pieces based on the actor's requirements and the play's script.
Artistic Collaboration: Actors sometimes collaborated with costume designers to create unique costumes for specific roles. These designers could sketch and create costumes tailored to the actor's character and the overall aesthetics of the production.
Reusing and Adapting: Actors often repurposed costumes from other productions or adapted existing garments to suit different roles. With limited resources, making the most of available costumes was essential.
It's worth noting that the costumes actors wore in the Globe Theatre were not entirely historically accurate. Elizabethan theater focused more on symbolism and visual representation rather than historical accuracy in costumes. The emphasis was on conveying characters' social status, personality traits, and allegories rather than replicating specific historical attire.