I think a lot of us have seen those fly-by-night cosplay companies, the ones with janky websites full of mass-produced costumes and props that disintegrate before you can walk inside the convention center.
That is not what First Stop Cosplay is about.
First Stop Cosplay wants to support the cosplay community with products and tutorials that can help cosplayers of all skill levels. This excerpt from their website says it all:
We refuse to be just another cosplay company that sells pre-made costumes because we understand the value of creating your cosplay yourself. We’ve experienced all the good and bad that comes with making a cosplay. We’ve shed tears over stupid mistakes and malfunctioning sewing machines, and shed blood because of rogue fabric shears and wayward sewing needles.
But we’ve also celebrated finding the perfect fabric in the perfect color and barely finishing in time for the next convention. And we’ve basked in the gratifying glory of wearing that new cosplay confident in the knowledge that it is absolute perfection. It may not be a perfect cosplay to someone else, but it is perfect to us because we made it ourselves.
We know firsthand how difficult it is to get started on making a cosplay and, even after you have, how hard it is to improve your skills. We believe that anyone who wants to cosplay should be able to. That is why we aim to ensure that a lack of knowledge will never again be a reason standing in someone’s way.
We stand for cosplays that you are proud to wear because they fit you just right and are as accurate as you want them to be. We stand for tears of joy instead of tears of frustration, for pride in a job well done, and for having fun wearing a cosplay that you made yourself.
I had a chance to chat with Amanda “Mari” Gregory, founder and president of First Stop Cosplay, about the vision behind the company and their plans for the future.
What was the first cosplay you created for yourself? What’s the most recent one you’ve completed, and how would you compare the two?
The first cosplay I created for myself was Haruhi Suzumiya from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and the most recent cosplay I’ve completed was Sinon from Sword Art Online. The difference between the two are night and day. I was very new to sewing with Haruhi and worked with what was readily available. I had minimal knowledge of fabric selection and didn’t know how to fit the garments to me properly. As a result, the cosplay wasn’t fitted properly and wasn’t as accurate to the character. The experience was still a lot of fun, though! With Sinon, I focused intensely on character accuracy, which added a giant level of complexity to the creation of the cosplay. More advanced sewing techniques were utilized, all the cosplay components were hand-made, and there were a lot of props to include. The process was a substantial learning experience that removed me far from my comfort zone, but I’m extremely proud of the end result.
Your site offers a lot of tools for the cosplayer, if you had to pick JUST one, what’s a cosplay tool you just can’t do without?
Barring a sewing machine and fabric shears, I would say glass head pins. The reason they’re the only pin in our shop is due to their heat resistance. I feel like they’re highly underrated since you can utilize them for standard pinning and you can iron right over them without fear of melting.
What’s the next big plan on the horizon for First Stop Cosplay?
More patterns! A lot more sewing patterns. We’re aiming for full cosplay sewing patterns, both First Stop Cosplay Originals and licensed patterns alike. We also want to increase our convention presence because we value our customers so much and want to thank them personally for their support.
You’re committed to supporting people in the cosplay community, beginners and advanced cosplayers alike. Do you have any stories about people who supported YOU as a beginner cosplayer that you’d want to mention?
Kelly Willey has been by my side for nearly every cosplay I’ve made. She’s been there from the beginning of the creation process through the end of the conventions. I think many of my cosplays would not have happened without her support and help. She’s a great friend, and I’m so glad to have her on our team here.
If you were talking directly to a new cosplayer, someone who wanted to join in but was feeling intimidated, what would you want to say to them before anything else?
If you want to do it, you should do it. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says. I think that cosplay is a way for people to show their love for their favorite characters and have fun being somebody else for a day. Accuracy, how much time or money you spend, or fear that you may not look the part doesn’t matter. The most important thing is you have fun and are comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing. Skirts can be animated to stay in place perfectly in the show, but we know that doesn’t happen in real life. If you need to add length, add length. If you’re proud of it, that’s all that matters!
The First Stop Cosplay website is now up and running. I was particularly impressed with their Tutorials page, featuring everything from sewing machine instructions and tools of the trade to general (lifesaving) cosplay hacks. Their online shop is also stocked with tools and supplies, with more on the way.
Stay up to date with updates and their convention appearances on their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram feeds, and their YouTube features lots of instruction videos and convention appearances, check out their first panel at Fangaea!
And don’t forget to check out their store for official First Stop Cosplay merch and more!
