Cosplayers Embrace DIY Crafting for Authenticity and Pride in Costume Creation
Across the city's vibrant cosplay scene, a growing number of enthusiasts are opting to create their own costumes rather than purchasing pre-made ones. Armed with online tutorials, thrifted materials, and a willingness to experiment through trial and error, these cosplayers assert that building from scratch enhances authenticity, fosters pride, and deepens their connection to the characters they portray.
Trial, Error, and Late-Night Panic in Costume Making
Shruti Narayanan, who dressed as Spider Gwen, quickly learned that not everything goes smoothly on the first attempt. "I thought stitching a bodysuit would be easy. I ruined two fabrics before figuring out the stretch. My sewing machine needle broke twice the night before Comic Con, and I was panicking at 2am," she recounted, estimating her total expenses at around ₹4,500. Similarly, Sri Vishnu, a marketing consultant, highlighted the planning required for sourcing parts for his Mandalorian tribute costume. "The helmet cost about ₹10,000 plus customs of around ₹3,900. The rest of the costume around ₹5,000 and the sword about ₹1,300–1,400," he shared.
Many cosplayers emphasize that the real challenge extends beyond mere creation to ensuring durability for hours of walking, posing, and performing in crowded convention halls. Ninth-grader Esha Kalingal, dressed as the Mad Hatter, echoed this sentiment, stating, "It was actually really hard to do this," with her costs estimated at about ₹1,150, primarily on small accessories.
Budget Hacks and Ingenious Jugaad in Cosplay
Not all cosplayers incur heavy expenses; some rely on creativity and resourcefulness to keep costs down. Praveen Kumar, who appeared as a Mandalorian, demonstrated this by repurposing materials. "The chest plate is actually cut from an old plastic storage box. I sanded it, primed it, painted it. People think everything is bought online, but a lot of cosplay is jugaad," he explained. The accessibility of online tutorials, thrifted materials, and shared tools within the cosplay community has made the craft more approachable, though time remains the most significant investment.
Why Cosplayers Keep Returning to the Craft
For many, the reward lies in the reactions from strangers. Arjun Menon, a graphic designer attending in cosplay for the third time, described how the hours of labor fade when someone recognizes the character. "You're exhausted, your feet hurt, the glue is still drying somewhere on the costume. But when a kid runs up and says, 'Can I take a picture?' that's it. That one moment pays for all the nights you spent fixing things that nobody will ever notice," he said.
Months of Preparation for a Single Moment
Preparation often begins long before conventions are announced. Karthik S, an engineering graduate who cosplayed as Geralt from The Witcher, revealed that his costume took nearly three months to complete. "I started planning in October. The armour alone took three attempts. The first version cracked because I used the wrong foam, the second one looked too bulky. By the time I was done, I had spent close to ₹9,000," he explained. Such timelines are common in the cosplay community, where crafting, testing, and reworking pieces frequently take longer than anticipated.
Others invest even more time and resources. Diwakaran Saravanan, who appeared in an Iron Man Mark 39 suit, said the costume required around six months to finish and cost about ₹45,000. "All parts were 3D printed and post-processed with sanding, primer, painting and electronics," he noted, adding that he also lost nearly 20 kilos over the past year to fit into the suit.
