My love for cosplay started with That’s So Raven. I was enthralled by Raven’s use of costumes to get her out of the zany situations that she found herself in. When I realized how powerful clothing was, I decided that I wanted to dress up whenever I could, so I could just play pretend and create the life that I wanted. For a minute, I considered a career in costume design because it would give me the opportunity to create garments that were too extravagant for everyday wear. Then, I decided against it because I wanted to focus on what I thought would be a more impactful career that aligned with my skillsets.
One of my favorite Atlanta spots to visit as a teen was Little Five Points, and I often wondered, “How did these costume stores stay in business outside of Halloween?” Although I went to my first con at 16, I didn’t realize that cosplay wasn’t reserved for occasional cons and Halloween, it is a practice that can be incorporated into someone’s daily routine if they truly believed in it. In my Blerdcon blog post, I write a little bit more about career cosplayers, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. As I continue to live my adult years, I realized cosplay can be incorporated any and everywhere, for those that are passionate about it.
Recently, Megan Thee Stallion cosplayed as Usagi from Sailor Moon, and folks were quick to applaud her cosplay and also point out that Lizzo has done the same. Even though cosplay seems to be more popular, many are wondering if that makes it accessible as well. I am in several Blerd Facebook groups where members express their qualms about getting started in Cosplay. Some people go out and buy a sewing machine because they are inspired by sewers like Kia Sangria. Others lament about finding plus-sized costumes that are flattering and won’t cost a fortune. However, amazing cosplayers like FeverDreame, Thick_qveen, and JigglySenpai, show that cosplayers come in all beautiful shapes and sizes.
Another issue that I’ve been speaking about for years is the proliferation of fast fashion, which is also prevalent in the cosplay community. Most cheap costumes are made from plastic fibers that shed microplastics into our water streams and wear out after a few uses. Although sustainable cosplay may seem impossible, I wanted to help people realize that cosplay can be accessible and sustainable.
So first, let’s talk money.
Let’s be honest, I hate when someone says something is cheap or expensive, and they don’t say the price. We all have varying levels of disposable income, but not offering a baseline makes it harder for people to gauge what they need to budget for their cosplays. I am going to try to use numbers when needed to help people get a better picture of how much cosplay actually costs and how to save for it.
Closet Cosplay: Free.99!
The cheapest most sustainable cosplay you can do is sitting in your closet! Think about iconic characters like Daria and Shaggy. They are wearing super basic outfits, but it’s the color scheme and hairstyles that let you know who that character is even if you’re not the same skin tone. Even if you don’t know whom to match, you can always just tell people you are a background character from a TV show. You can also get creative by dressing as the casual version of a character. Use a character’s color scheme to reimagine their look as if they were going on a date or back to school.
Clothes are only one aspect of cosplay; another important thing you can create is accessories. For Momocon 2022, I cosplayed as Wanda from the Fairly OddParents. I used a yellow crop top and black leggings for Wanda’s outfit, but I knew folks wouldn’t get the reference off of that, so I used some scrap yellow poster board to create a crown and wand. I crafted a wand with a yellow star cut out that I taped to a paintbrush. It was that simple AND that fun.
Thrift Stores and Resale Shops ($5+)
Of course, the next progression for closet cosplays is Thrift Stores and Resale shops. Your best bet is to budget a minimum of $20 for a head-to-toe look. Cosplay thrifting takes a lot of time, luck, and creativity. Thrift stores are starting to create year-round costume sections that are great for a quick and cheap look, but it may be hard to find your size. Thrifting is great for basics that you can paint, cut up, or style for casual cosplay looks.
The key to cosplay thrifting is color scheme. I was able to create my Killua cosplay because I stuck to Killua’s colors and outfit elements. I shopped on the special color tag days to get my pieces for extremely low prices.
Although there are several online clothing resellers, the best marketplace for secondhand cosplay is Lumikha Cosplay Resale. Not only can you buy cosplay accessories and shoes, you can also purchase incomplete projects! Unfinished Objects (or UFOs) are gold for crafters who have trouble starting projects or want to avoid certain steps (i.e. zipper installation, sewing buttons, and cuffs).
Up until this point in this cosplay guide, you needed relatively no crafting skills to create these looks. Most people think cosplay becomes inaccessible when crafting is involved. However, you can learn costume design skills for less than $50 through the following resources.
Cosplay Crafting Resources
YouTube University and TikTok Academy- Free.99!
I like to joke that when I graduated with my MBA, I enrolled part-time at YouTube University because I realized there was so much to learn from Youtubers who are crafty enough to share their skills with the world. Youtube is great for free general classes. Sometimes, you can watch tutorials for specific sewing patterns or learn a general skill that can be applied to your crafting journey. Kia Sangria breaks down how to read patterns and pick fabric on her YouTube page.
Your Local Public Library- Free .99!
Did you know that certain municipalities have libraries with free sewing machines and 3D cutters that patrons can use? Some branches will even offer classes or be used as meeting spaces for local craft guilds that will host classes. Check out your local branch’s page for free craft classes and even craft supply swaps!
A Makerspace- $30-$100 month
Makerspaces are another amazing resource for crafters who are unable to purchase multiple pieces of equipment like laser cutters, sewing machines, sergers, etc. Not only do they provide equipment, but also community. Members come together to teach new skills and work together to create community art projects which can give you the skills you need to level up as a crafter. Instead of spending $300 on a new sewing machine that you won’t use all the time, you can pay for the makerspace fee that will give you 24-hour access to the space.
Creative Reuse Centers- $5-100/visit
Famous Cosplayers get brand deals that allow them to get free fabric and sewing supplies from retailers. These sponsorships help them show off cosplays made with fabric that’s $20/yd. However, those price points aren’t accessible to casual cosplay enthusiasts. That’s where creative reuse centers come in! Creative Reuse Centers are thrift stores for makers. Not only can you find affordable fabric and sewing supplies, but you can also find foam and cardboard for props. You can easily spend less than $100 to make your cosplays for an entire con. Check out this post from Swoodson Says to help find a creative reuse center near you!
As the Executive Director of Scraplanta Creative Reuse, I should insert a small plug for us because we do plan to have cosplay workshops in conjunction with Momocon and Dragoncon for Atlanta area cosplayers to craft and connect with one another. Creative Reuse Centers provide programming based on their customers, so if you would like to see cosplay classes, contact your local center about a course!
Cosplay is accessible! It may seem hard to get started, but the first step just involves finding inspiration, and the second is community. Even if you live in a rural town or feel like your peer group doesn't support your cosplay, you can always try to reach out to cosplayers you meet online! There are several Discord servers and Facebook Groups for you to virtually make new friends at cons.
I hope this blog post helps folks on their sustainable cosplay journeys! Feel free to comment your sustainable cosplay tips and cosplayers who inspire you.
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