Meet the Collector: Cosplay Edition

There is a complete whole lot additional to cosplay than just carrying a costume, and Anna, Piotr, and Aleksandra are in this article to confirm it! Associates of the Polish chapter of the 501st Legion, a charity costuming firm devoted to Star Wars, they honor their beloved area franchise by donning outfits of the saga’s villains and give back to their community when accomplishing so. Go through what’s the hardest part of cosplaying for them and which figures are their favorite to portray.

When and how did you start off cosplaying?

Anna ‘faultfett’ Hikiert-Bereza (Anna): It’s been practically 20 many years! The initial costume I worked on was Mara Jade, a person of my favorite Star Wars Expanded Universe (now renamed Legends) people. I designed it for the Alderaan conference, the next (and past) edition of which was held in 2003. It took me a few a long time to improve it and use it to be a part of the Polish Garrison of the 501st Legion. I admit that the primary explanation was that my, at the time, future spouse had just joined :P. Just after that, I also registered it in the Polish unit of the Rebel Legion, Eagle Foundation. And then much more costumes followed.

Piotr ‘Falcon’ Bereza (Piotr): My journey with cosplay started in the spring of 2007 when I done my to start with costume, the Scout Trooper. I experienced by now believed about some Star Wars cosplay earlier, but I did not have the proper implies to accomplish a professional ensemble then. As a result of building new costumes, I also uncovered myself as a design maker, and I am nevertheless studying new tactics to this working day.

Aleksandra ‘Lady Sandman’ Świst-Bogdańska (Aleksandra): It was around 2006 when I very first saw the Polish Garrison — the Polish department of a worldwide Star Wars costuming group, the 501st Legion. I was extremely amazed and promptly identified that cosplay could be a way to categorical my Star Wars enthusiasm on a distinct level. And as a member of a dynamically operated nearby admirer club, I was surrounded by superb people today who felt the exact. So, it progressed in a natural way, and quickly most of us obtained into SW cosplay and became customers of the 501st Legion.

What acquired you into cosplaying?

Anna: I imagine it is a little bit like having your fandom to a larger stage when you impersonate the character you like, you move into a galaxy considerably, much away! It’s just like bodily getting a element of it.

Aleksandra: It was often about expressing my enthusiasm and assembly new, exciting folks. Turning out to be a member of the costuming club was a turning place for me, as I traveled a large amount across the region and overseas to a lot of science-fiction/fantasy conventions and built new pals. That is the most valuable thing I bought from Star Wars cosplay.

Who is your favorite character to cosplay, and why?

Anna: I really don’t have a person favourite costume. I test to pick out them in accordance to the occasion. For instance, children in a hospital are not likely to figure out Mara Jade, but enthusiasts at a fantasy conference will. The Boushh outfit, on the other hand, is not extremely suited for warm weather conditions, as it is made up of many layers of leather-based. Some costumes are less complicated to put on for a little bit extended, whilst many others, while a lot more outstanding, are sad to say a lot less cozy.p

Piotr: Scout Trooper. I believe it seems to be substantially better than the typical imperial stormtrooper. It is also certainly extra at ease.

Aleksandra: My coronary heart has constantly been on the Imperial aspect. I started out with a simple black Imperial Officer (affordable costume and easy to travel with), then had a male Tusken Rider with a cycler rifle and a Scout Trooper, which was my preferred costume for lots of many years. My existing costume is an AT-ST Driver from Return of the Jedi — I adore it for its simplicity.

What is the most complicated element of cosplay that you have noticed or confronted?

Anna: Making some areas of the costume. For instance, I just can’t sew nor develop intricate costume items produced from leather-based.

Piotr: A person of the most demanding times I remember was at the beginning of our go to to Legoland, Günzburg. There, together with customers of other garrisons, we greeted people though standing at awareness in a downpour for virtually 2 hours! A different difficult instant was our summer season ascent (in costumes!) of Szczeliniec Wielki, the greatest peak (919 m) of the Desk Mountains.

Aleksandra: When I started out my cosplay adventure all over the late 2000’ the greatest issue was the funds and the requirement to buy armor parts from the US. In some cases you also have to have replicas of boots or guns from the WWII period of time (as they ended up used in the primary movies), which can also be highly-priced if you are hunting for an correct model. Staying accurate and canon is crucial in the 501st Legion as there are pointers on how to be monitor precise. This often indicates lovers look for for months (or even several years) to obtain the correct model made use of in the films. Luckily, owing to the current introduction of 3D printers and advanced vacuum forming approaches, many plastic things of costumes are now readily available regionally, which tends to make the procedure of constructing a costume a great deal simpler. Continue to, you require to sew or make some costume aspects from scratch, which can be fairly difficult.

What’s the finest element about cosplaying?

Anna: The point that, aside from obtaining enjoyable, you can bring pleasure to others, these as young children in hospitals or orphanages! Charity is 1 of the primary pillars of our activities. 

Piotr: Being in a position to deliver at the very least a short minute of joy to many others, in particular small children. Aside from that, many thanks to currently being a member of the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion, I met several excellent folks from all above the earth.

Aleksandra: Feeling like a component of the Star Wars universe! And of training course, the enterprise of good friends who really feel the exact way and like collaborating in similar activities — largely conventions and charity functions.

Which Star Wars film is your favourite?

Anna: I would say The Empire Strikes Back, although I also really like Return of the Jedi — mostly due to the fact of the scenes in Jabba’s Palace and on his sail barge.

Piotr: I adore the unique trilogy and treat it as a person product, but if I experienced to choose, it would likely be Return of the Jedi. Generally for the Struggle of Endor, which I seriously like. This movie is a incredibly psychological end result of the saga for me.

Aleksandra: The Empire Strikes Again! It has the ideal tempo and greatest plot twist in cinematic heritage, and only in this article does the Empire gain about the Riot. In addition, this episode has a great deal of Vader in it — my all-time preferred character!

What tips would you give to another person who is just commencing their journey in cosplay?

Anna: Don’t get discouraged, search for the best remedies, and really don’t be concerned to ask a lot more expert persons for help. But also: pay out shut notice to particulars. It’s vital to have an -as much as achievable- screen precise (or comic-/ figure- correct) costume if you want to be part of one of the businesses formally permitted by Disney/Lucasfilm.

Piotr: First of all, do not rush. There’s a great deal of material out there on the Online right now, as perfectly as tutorials presenting various methods and reference pictures. It is far better to do one thing much more gradually and properly than redo it later. As opposed to usual cosplayers, we also use our costumes rather usually, so they need to be as snug and strong as possible.

Aleksandra: Pick a costume that you fancy and, if doable, pick a single which is uncomplicated to commence with just to see if this is for you. And then transfer on to the a lot more complicated costumes.

Nearly anything else you would like to share?

Anna: There is no age limit to get started or prevent cosplaying. The finest proof is our son, who took portion in his 1st Fantastic Orchestra of Xmas Charity when he was only a few months old! Or the oldest (now late) member of the 501st Legion, a girl aged 90, who cosplayed as a Jawa. Gender does not issue when you can impersonate your favourite character precisely. It is fun for anyone! 

Piotr: I would like to motivate people thinking about cosplaying to halt procrastinating and get to work. Nowadays, loads of options are offered, permitting you to do factors that had been basically unachievable just a few yrs back.

Aleksandra: The Empire desires you, so if you are considering becoming a member of the galactic battle, get started off on your 1st costume and see wherever it goes! Very good luck.