High Quality and Cheap Cosplay Items = RIDICULOUS

WARNING: This post may be extremely hurtful to some. Yes, I am harsh. Thread carefully, you have been warned.

LOOKING FOR / WHO CAN MAKE:
CHEAP , VERY DETAILED, ACCURATE AND HIGH QUALITY COSTUMES

This statement is a joke. Who ever uses these words together in a sentence is an idiot as these words don't simply go together.

How can it be cheap if it is well made, I ask you.

Time and time again, I will say, do not take cosplay as a hobby if you can not commit.

GOOD / HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS - are not cheap or require effort to attain. The cost may be lower if you go to Divisoria or directly to the suppliers but you still have to consider how hard it is to track the materials down and go there to get it. A trip to Divisoria is not exactly the same as going to an air conditioned mall where everything is neatly categorized and arranged.

ACCURACY - requires time for research and close inspection to get all elements done correctly

VERY DETAILED - big things are easier done. Based on my experience, it's the little details that need more attention. Getting the details correctly require inordinate amounts of patience and skill

TIME + EFFORT + SKILL + GOOD MATERIAL = HIGH QUALITY ITEM = MONEY

Guilty Kiss : Love Live cosplay

With all the work that has to be done, how can some thing outstandingly made be cheap?

Basically, you pay to get a satisfactory item, if you want that then prepare to shell out.

To make matters worst, most want these very detailed, accurate costumes made CHEAPLY and IN A RUSH. How is that possible?! You can not rush quality! When you mention a rush fee, they think you are absurd for even asking for it. *shakes head*

BUT a good costume doesn't necessarily have to be made from high end materials as most seem to think, admittedly not everyone has enough cash to dole out so some parts of the costume would have to be compensated.

The trick is: know the effect you want to achieve.

Good materials can really have a great effect on the end product but how well made it is can also be a key factor.
Low end materials can turn into quality masterpieces in the hands of skilled makers and in turn high quality materials can produce sloppy items if not used well.
In short, high quality items doesn't have to be made from high quality materials.

As much as I myself would love to splurge on better materials, I don't have the luxury as I pay for mine and my sister's costumes. I am proud to say that even though geena and katrina are our go to fabrics, we have never looked shabby. This is all thanks to my favorite seamstress, and she is my favorite for a reason. Her stitches are clean and her lines are straight and she understands what I want. She can't do most details but it is ok as I can handle that, together, we make a good team =)

I took up sewing only recently so only now do I get the chance to get better fabrics and material.

Going back, most newbie cosplayers think that one stop cosplay shops / sellers exist and can give them very good items for less than a thousand bucks. Hilarious. When I started cosplaying, I knew that 1,000php or even 3,000 would not do if I wanted the best.
There are cosplayers who just leave choice of material to the maker, when they are not happy, they blame the maker. Cosplayers should have an active participation in the making of their costumes. You don't have to make everything yourself but you can oversee the production or at least get the materials or prepare to pay up.

Most local tailors get plain satin when you say costume. Honestly, plain satin ain't bad at all but you should know when to use it. Satin is a no no for plain costumes as well as seifukus as they are shiny-shimery-splendid.

Here are some examples of cosplay costumes which used low end materials but don't look too scruffy (or so I think hehehehe).
Apologies, most are mine as I don't want the extra drama that comes with using other people's photos.

Geena / Pongee Silk

I like geena, actually it is so under rated. Geena comes is a wide array of matte colors, plus it is light, cool and flowy. Geena is mostly used for linings and considered to be the cheapest of the cheap as it is
20-30 Php per yard and can go down to 15-18PhP per yard if you are suki

This Lacus Clyne cosplay was a super on budget cosplay XDD

The dress is made entirely of geena, the wig is of cheap China non-heat resistant brand

XDDDD My Belldandy cosplay, ok, forgive me for the bad editing but this was soooo long ago.

All the fabric parts were geena, I saved a lot on the fabric but the gold details were embroidered, (imagine how much embroidery takes for the whole length of the dress)

all the accessories were store bought then modified. I had to go stingy on the wig.

I will re-shoot this cosplay with a better wig and wings but am really happy with how the costume turned out.

Plain Satin

Plain satin is thicker and sturdier than geena but the right side is shiny, though it is great for dresses and gowns. Satin costs 40-50Php per yard and is the choice of most local tailors when you say you want a costume done. Plain satin ain't so bad as it also comes in a lot of good colors but you have to be careful as if your costume is made entirely out of satin, if someones takes a photo of you with a flash aiyaiyaaaaaaayyy caramaba! Shine everywhere XD

Again, the trick is NOT to use satin for simple items of clothing or seifukus, know when the shine is forgivable or not. The wrong /unshiny side can be used in a lot of ways.

My friend Ricah as Amy Soriel, the top part of her costume would you believe, is just plain satin? 

Well she, used the wrong side.

Looks nice, yes?

Assassin Cross cosplay and yes, the suit is made from brown satin, kinda shiny but I like the effect that's why I purposely chose to use the right side up

Katreena / Katrina

Thicker than geena, as sturdy as satin but with out the shine. I am not sure if this is just me but I think katrina is a bit hot and itchy but over all it is a fine low cost material. Best for skirts, pants and seifukus.

Costs 40-55Php per yard. It isn't light and flowy so I wouldn't recommend for capes and long coats.

My friend Sese as Hagane Miku, skirt is made from katrina

Over all costume looks rocker chic~

Tsukamoto Tenma cosplay with an awesome Harima Kenji by Hario!

My vest and skirt was made from Katrina :3

I can proudly say that even though some of my costumes were made from low end materials, I got the details correctly. I may have saved on some parts but still, since cosplay itself is a costly hobby, I still have to say bye bye to my money, the end product is satisfactory by my standards so I have no regrets.

If my words, stung, I do apologize.

I hope this post has been enlightening. REALITY IS: YOU CAN NOT GET VERY NICE COSPLAY ITEMS FOR THRIFT SHOP PRICES. YOU WILL GET ITEMS THAT ARE YOUR MONEY'S WORTH, YOU PAY NOT ONLY FOR MATERIALS BUT ALSO ACCURACY AND SKILL OF THE MAKER. I DO HOPE THAT COSPLAYERS OR ASPIRING COSPLAYERS WOULD BE MORE INFORMED / LESS GULLIBLE SO THAT CASES OF SCAMMING CAN BE LESSENED.

Sure you can be resourceful and save on a lot of things if you make you own stuff but COSPLAY IS NOT A CHEAP HOBBY.

Know when to be reasonable. Be a reasonable in pricing if you are selling, if you are buying take into consideration skill and material - don't haggle too much.

With that I bid you, dear reader, Adieu.

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thanks for reading!

 jaa! visit me again, ne!

     arigatou! (*^3^)/~

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