 Costume designer Robert Fletcher wanted to emphasize the effects of their harsh environment on Khan and his followers . " My intention with Khan was to express the fact that they had been marooned on that planet with no technical infrastructure , so they had to cannibalize from the spaceship whatever they used or wore . Therefore , I tried to make it look as if they had dressed themselves out of pieces of upholstery and electrical equipment that composed the ship , " he said . Director Nicholas Meyer told Montalbán to keep Khan 's right glove on at all times , in order to give viewers a puzzle they could form their own opinions about and add mystery to the character . Meyer has been repeatedly asked if Montalbán wore a prosthetic chest for his scenes , as his uniform was purposefully designed with an open front . Meyer replied in audio commentary for the film that Montalbán ( who was 61 during filming ) is " one strong cookie , " and that no prosthetics were applied to the actor 's sizeable frame . 
