At Coscove, we work with a ton of awesome commissioners and people who are seeking commissions. Overtime, we've heard a lot about the little things that separate a good commissioner from the great. So today, I thought we could share these tips and best practices with anyone who's curious about becoming a commissioners, or anyone who wants to level up their commissioning game. We'll take a look at each step of the commissioning process and will give you tips for every step. Let's jump in!

As a commissioner, you are not only a craftsman, but also a marketing guru. You need to get your name out there through social media, your Coscove Maker profile, your own website, your Etsy store, etc. There are endless channels you are on and you need to manage your intake of potential clients effectively. The last thing you want is for a message to be stuck in a forgotten DM on a place you no longer check regularly, or for you to be constantly typing out the same message to let people know what you need on your intake form. So the way to manage your intake is through one main source of truth. 

You could set it up so your email is the intake, and you put in all your social media channels that people interested in commissioning should reach out to a specific address 

Pro Tip: setting up an email just for commissioning work will be super handy rather than using a personal email with several purposes

Tip 2: Saving a reply template that asks people for details on the commission can be a great way to save yourself some time    

Using  a standard form is a super easy way to get all the info you need in one place, without excessive back and forth communication. Just put the link to this form on your socials and direct people as needed. 

Pro Tip: Don't make your intake form super long because no one have the attention span, but DO ask for the key info you need to get a sense of what this project will be like. A couple of things we always ask for include, Contact Details, Project Deadline, Series/Character, Parts needed, Notes and any reference images

(Example intake form from our friends from Ptybt Art Atelier)

Your Maker profile on Coscove is a great way to keep your portfolio, requests, achievements all in one place. You can share details about your past commissioning experiences, any awards you've won, skills you have etc. And you can upload and update your portfolio at anytime. Your commissioning requests will automatically be collected and sent to you, and any reviews that your clients share will be added to your profile as well!

(Example: Anythingsews Profile, Portfolio, and Experiences on Coscove Maker's page)

Pro Tip: Any time you can get a client to post a photo of them in the costume, do ask for that and do add it to your profile. Costumes with a human in it will always be more eye grabbing and we consistently see our top makers adding, sharing and updating their portfolio with the latest photos.


(Example: Dia's commissioning portfolio on Coscove)

Imagine someone comes to you with a project request from a fandom you love, with a budget that's easy to work with, and everything just seems so perfect and exciting, but only thing is, their deadline is 4 weeks away. Are you going to take the project? 

If you think about it, the first week will likely be used to align on a design and what fabrics to go with, then a week for the fabric and materials to arrive, then the last week will be shipping time. All of a sudden, that leaves you only a week in the middle to complete all your work. 

For newer commissioners, not building in enough buffer time is the biggest cause of burn out, which is the biggest cause of makers quitting commissioning. Most experienced commissioners will require a minimum of 3-4 months for a full costume project. If you want to turn your maker skills into a sustainable business, then you'll have to be able to manage deadlines, plan for buffer time, and not take any work with deadlines that you might have a hard time meeting. 

Pro Tip: give yourself a week for two for early communication and locking down the contract with your client. Give a week for materials to arrive if you're ordering online. 

Ask about your client's deadline, not just the one they gave to you but what event are they wearing it to? If the deadline they gave you is the con date, then that means you need to build  shipping time into the deadline. Plus, you need to give make sure the costume arrives a couple days to a week earlier so your client can take it to a local tailor for any last minute fittings. 

2. Understand and Building in Buffer Time

After you have an initial touchpoint with the client and before you put together the contract, you need a plan for what materials, how much time, etc that you will need for this project. 

The best way to go here is to provide options for your clients. Typically we see commissioners offering 

A lux version (if the commissioner used the most accurate fabrics and techniques) 

An econ version (cheaper fabrics and less time-consuming techniques)

And maybe something in the middle (though two could be enough) 

This way, you are letting the client see the full range of potential so they have full control over what choices they make. This is also good for setting expectations (if they end up choose a more economical option).   

Many commissioners will tell you that communication is as big a part of the job as the actual crafting. 

Think about it, someone just paid you a huge chunk of money for something that they have never seen, that won't be delivered for months, from someone they don't know, and it's for a deadline that (very often) has little flexibility. Think about how nervous they must be and what a huge leap of faith they're taking by choosing you as the commissioner. The psychology is actually not all that different from getting a wedding dress made for the big day. 

All that to say, the more you communicate with your client, the more they will feel at ease, the more they will trust you, and the more likely things will go smoothly during this collaboration. 

At a minimum, you should be communicating with your client once a week, even if not much has been done. It's always better to have a regular rhythm, so your client knows you haven't disappeared and that they can reach out to you if needed. Don't make them wonder when you'll communicate (they tend to start thinking horror stories if they don't know what to expect), just stick to a schedule of quick updates, even if you haven't done much. 

You don't always have to stick to email either. Text works great for you to snap a pic and add a couple of words. Social media posts or stories are also great because you're increasing your exposure and credibility at the same time as giving your client an update. Two birds with one stone! 

(Check out these example updates from our great friend Nerddreamz who's mastered the art of keeping clients in the loop)

Pro tip: update your client at LEAST once a week, even if you haven't done much. They'll appreciate it, as we've heard from folks who have commissioned on Coscove

Tip 2: use social media to your advantage. Clients love to see updates on their project via social media. Increasing your interactions on social media will also make them more likely to share and tag you in the photos after they receive it, which you definitely want!    

Clarity is key here. Clients want to see invoices that clearly outline the various materials, labor, and anything else that went into the final price. By tracking these things clearly during the project, not only will you have a clear picture of your business, but you'll also seem super legit and credible to your client. 

(Credit: example invoice from Adaria Designs Ichigo Mew Costume) 

Last but not least, you as the maker of the costume need to think about the experience your client will have when they go to unbox that baby. 

If it has many parts, great commissioners will film a short video that explains what each part is how to put it together.  

If you're working with delicate items, wigs, or props, make sure you're packing your items properly so they don't get damaged during transit. There's a ton of creative packing tricks and tips on Youtube as well if you need some ideas. 

If you had scraps left over or extra buttons and such, throw a couple into a baggy in case things wear and tear as the client shows offer your creation to the world. 

There you have it! 6 tips to help your cosplay commissioning business. Are you a maker? Did we miss anything? Ping us to share and we'll continue to collect best practices from the community to share with everyone <3

Best practices for cosplay makers and commissioners. At Coscove, we work with a ton of awesome commissioners and people who are seeking commissions. Overtime, we've heard a lot about the little things that separate a good commissioner from the great.

6 Best Practices to Level Up Your Commissioning Game

Genshin Impact has taken the gaming world by storm and is one of the most popular new games! With multiple playable characters, terrific character design, solid game play and more, it's popularity doesn't seem to be declining anytime soon. 

Cosplayers from all over the world have created their interpretation of their favorite Genshin Impact characters. Today, we'll share a comprehensive list of Genshin Impact costumes made by commissioners from our website. No matter who you like or what your budget is, we'll have something for you!  

A powerful mage and an intellectual learner, Lisa's carefree and flirty nature makes her so fun to cosplay. 

Check out Xanthic Sews' rendition of Lisa. The costume is entirely handmade and featuring hand beading and lace details. The set comes with the entire costume, hat, cape, and belt! 

Another beloved character! Genyu is graceful, quiet and can complete any task at hand. Her bow is a work of art to look at but also packs an incredible punch. 

Check out Jennie's version of Ganyu's costume.  This costume is very intricately made and features 3D printed accessories, and vinyl applique to create the golden accents on her outfit. 

Check out another interpretation of Ganyu's costume from Clover! Clover specializes in creating Genshin Impact costumes and we'll be sharing more of her work later on in the post as well. 

For Ganyu's Bow, check out this awesome build from Porzellan Props. The bow is modeled exactly like the design in the game and is 3D printed in her workshop. Porzellan Props will mail you the bow without the final finishing so you can complete the bow and paint it exactly the way you like it!     

Generally considered the best DPS character in the game, Diluc is a blast to play both online and offline. Born into an affluent noble family, Diluc is the wealthiest gentleman in Mondstadt and considers himself an "anti-hero with attitude problems".  

For Diluc, we have a KFC themed cosplay created by Rosary Brands. This costume includes embroidery details and is cut to give you such a spiffy look. 

Fun fact, the tailor at Rosary used to make suits and tailored garments and has 40+ years of sewing experience. Get yourself a costume that Diluc would wear himself!  

The undead Qiqi is quiet, emotionless and can appear confused or dazed. She looks adorable and her bubble outfit is super cute.  

Remember Clover, who we mentioned earlier? She also created this Qiqi costume. Complete with the dress, accessories and hat, this costume is super adorable and sure to be a ton of fun to cosplay.

This Hutao costume from Clover features applique details, faux leather, and handmade decoration details. The hat is also included with the costume. 

Clover is based out of California and can work quite fast if your deadline required it. She's a great commissioner and cosplayer to know! 

Venti is carefree, playful and loves the good music and songs. He enjoys roaming the lands. Sometimes, His baby face can be troublesome when he wants to indulge in drinks. 

Check out this Venti costume from Clover. This cosplay comes with everything you need (hat, belt, cape, clothes), except for a lyre! Start embarking on your magical bard adventure! 

"The Spindrift Knight, a scion of the old aristocracy, and the Captain of the Knights of Favonius Reconnaissance Company."

Despite her family's history, Eula is humorous, reliable and a great friend. 

Check out this Eula costume from Clover! The costume comes with a full-sized detachable cape, headpiece and is is adorned by pretty accessories that are characteristic of Eula's outfit. 

Last but not least, we are sharing a super cute Diona costume from Clover. The costume comes with the hat, belt, top and shorts. All you need now is to channel your Diona personality! 

Your poses for the next Sailor Moon photoshoot!

Looking for an amazing Genshin Impact costume? Check here!

Your Ultimate Genshin Impact Costume Edit

Last week, we went through the basics of the commissioning process. Today we're going to go through how to do a very rough, back-of-the-envelope estimate for your custom cosplay costume or cosplay prop commission. 

This guide is by no means a way to replace a quote from your commissioner. It's meant to help you understand what goes into the cost of your costume, and see if your budget is remotely feasible. Many commissioners are also very willing to work with various budget, so when in doubt, go reach out!

This method estimates the cost based on a factor of 2 or 3 applied to material cost depending on if the commissioner has made something similar before. This method is really simple because you only need to estimate the cost of the materials. But if your costume calls for cheap materials and a lot of labor, or expensive materials and low labor, this method won't give good results.

This method estimates the cost based on total material and an hourly wage. This method is used by the majority of commissioners in some way or form. They may not put out a standard rate per hour given the uniqueness of each cosplay commission, but are generally using this structure when building your quote. 

This method will give you results that are as good as your inputs. In other words, you'd have to make good estimates on material costs and the labor time required (which can be hard to estimate, even for commissioners). 

In this post, we will give you all the tools you need to estimate the various components and get a range for the rough costs of any cosplay commission project.

The 2-3-2 method standards for double or triple your material cost, then adding adding in 20% for the overhead costs. Let's take a look at each step. 

Estimate the total cost of materials needed for your costume. Scroll down to see how to do this. We also have some more detailed posts later to help you figure out what fabrics are needed and how much is needed.

Has the commissioner made this costume or something similar before? If the answer is yes, double the material cost. If the answer is no, triple the material cost to account for extra time needed for research, design and prototyping.

Lastly, add 20% to the number you calculated in step 2 to estimate for equipment wear and tear, overhead, project time runovers, and any travels needed.

| Example |                               | Total |
|---------|-------------------------------|-------|
| Step 1  | Material                      | $100  |
| Step 2  | Brand New Creation: $100 * 3  | $300  |
| Step 3  | Overhead: $300 + ($300 * 20%) | **$360**  |

This step is the same as the method above. Estimate the total cost of materials needed for your costume. Scroll down to see how to do this. We also have some more detailed posts later to help you figure out what fabrics are needed and how much is needed.

Estimate the number of hours needed for your project in these categories. 

Research, design, prototype, final assembly. We have more details below on how to do this. More detailed guide to follow as well on a later date. 

Hourly wages generally fall between 20-50/hour. The more experienced the maker, the higher the rate. The more complicated your project is, the higher the hourly rate. 

| Example |                                         |                   |
|---------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Step 1  | Material                                | $100              |
| Step 2  | Research + Prototype (3h), Sewing (10h) | 13 hours          |
| Step 3  | Simple project + low experience level   | assume ~ $20/hour |
| Total   | $100 + (13 * $20)                       | **$360**          |

For the purpose of today post, we'll be look at how to estimate fabric costs for costumes. If you want to commission a prop/armor or wig, the numbers won't be helpful but the way to think about the process will be quite similar. 

In order to estimate fabric costs, there are 3 pieces of information you need:

Here are some rough rules-of-thumb for fabric usage in a "lego" format. Piece together the costume you need by its parts, and check the fabric usage below. 

These fabric usages are for wide fabric (~55 inches) based on misses size 8-12 . If you need more fabric, please consider multiplying by a factor of 1.5x.

| Ballgown (3 layer skirt) |              |              |
|--------------------------|--------------|--------------|
| Blouse                   | 2 yards each | 2 yards      |
| 3 x Circle Skirt         | 5 yards each | 15 yards     |
|                          | Total:       | **17 yards** |

| Naruto Tracksuit (no lining) |             |
|------------------------------|-------------|
| Blouse                       | 2 yards     |
| Pants                        | 3 yards     |
| Total:                       | **5 yards** |

For your costume, you probably have some thoughts on what fabric you might need for the statement pieces. You'll probably need velvet for a royal cape or fur for Game of Thrones. But what about the white fabric for the sailor scout costume, or the white uniform top for Girls und Panzer? 

Here is a guide to help you think through what fabrics you'll need for each part of your costume. 

You generally have a couple of options in terms of fabric to craft a similar look for your cosplay. Which means, if you have a smaller budget, this is a good place to shave some costs. Your commissioner will generally give you a few plans at various prices to choose from and get your approval on fabric choices before beginning any work. 

The following graphic will give you a sense of rough fabric costs. If low cost is important to you, then the "econ" column is the place to go. If you want to get a better final effect, then check out the "lux" column. Mix and match is always great as well to get the most bang for your buck.

This part is hard, not just because you haven't done it before but because humans are not great at estimate project progress. Just like even the best engineers can't predict when they'll finish building a bridge, even the most seasoned commissioners won't be able to say exactly how many hours it'll take for a project. The more complicated your cosplay project is, the less accurate the estimate with be. 

Having said that, below is one way to think about estimating project time.

Lastly, don't forget to estimate the cost of shipping, including any packaging.

For shipping, always get tracking, insurance, and signature. These costumes are costly and you need extra assurance that you're covered in case anything goes wrong.

Now you have all the tools you need to start estimating (and maybe saving up) for your next custom costume commission. 

Finally, we are excited to share the full cost breakdown of a real costume commission done by one of the talented commissioners featured on our website, Adaria Designs. She's an award winning cosplayer and commissioner. Adaria creates the most gorgeous cosplays with intricate detailing, embroidery, and more!

For this costume commission, Adaria Designs worked on a costume of Mew Ichigo from the Tokyo Mew Mew series. The full costume set included a corseted blouse, bubble skirt, sleeves, necklace, gloves, garter, and custom-painted boots. 

Adaria breaks down the raw material cost including fabrics, notions, and the boots. Note the difference in fabric requirement for each piece and visual details. The majority of time was spent on perfecting the details and assembly of the costume pieces. And lastly, shipping included packaging, tracking, and insurance so that the costume could arrive safely!

Huge thanks to Adaria Designs for sharing this with us.

Want to save this information for future use or share with fellow cosplayers or commissioner friends?

Check out this infographic below that summarizes how to estimate commissioning costs!

Want to learn more about commissions? Check out our other Commissions 101 posts!

How to estimate the cost of a cosplay commission?

👉 This is the first part of our series: [Commissions 101](https://coscove.com/blog/tagged/commissions-101). Stay tuned for more deep dives into the costume commission process!

A custom costume commission is a great way to get your dream cosplay when you can't make your own - whether that's due to time or skill.

If you've been on cosplay forums or groups, then you've definitely seen the word "commission" floating around. It's likely that you have also interacted with many commissioners. They are usually also cosplayers! Despite this, not all cosplayers are familiar with what that actually means. What does a commission actually entail? What is the process like? How are commissions priced?

We are starting a multi-part series on costume commissioning. We will go over the commissioning process, what the experience is like, and the tools that you need to estimate the potential cost. This post is by no means a replacement for any information provided by commissioners. You should definitely rely on them for your specific situation and needs. Instead, we give a general overview to make the commissioning process less confusing. Let's get started!

First, some terminology. There are two major players in the commissioning process: the commissioner and the client. 

A commissioner is someone who makes custom costumes, wigs, props, armor, shoes, etc. at someone else's request. This may be a little counter intuitive for native English speakers. For the cosplay community, the "commissioner" is someone who takes the commission, not the one who requests it. You may also see them referred to in more plain terms such as "maker".

You can think of your commissioner as your fairy godmother - the one who will be making your most fantastical cosplay dreams come true. So treat them well, respect their craft, and most importantly: credit them in your social media so more people can discover them!

A client, or a customer, is someone who requests the custom commission. Pretty straightforward stuff! In the rest of this post, I will be using "clients" and "cosplayers" interchangeably to refer to the folks who want the costumes.  

Slots represents the number of clients a makers can take for a period of time. Commissioners can't constantly take on new projects. They need to manage their workflow. Typically, makers will predetermine a specific number of customers they can take on within a time range. These are slots. Each client fills a slot. 

The process for a custom commission can be very long. It can also differ wildly depending on your needs, the project complexity, and even location. Here, we break down the process into a few big buckets that are common to everyone. From when you start thinking about getting a commission, to your piece arriving at the door, here are the steps involved.

Getting a commission is a unique experience where an artist is turning your vision into reality. You'll want to find someone whose artistic vision you like, who is within your budget, who has an open slot in time for your deadline, and who can work with your body type and size. That's a lot of factors! So it's no surprise that it's going to take some time to do this research. 

Here are some common places to start your search:

An easy place to start is with Facebook groups. Try searching for commissioning groups in your area on Facebook. On these groups, cosplayers will post their needs and commissioners will respond if they think they can work with that project.

| Pros | Cons |
| - | - |
| You don't need to do much active work if you don't want to. Just create a post with your needs and commissioners will reply.  | If you want to actively search for commissioners, it is a headache. You can't search by experience, price, past works or anything that might be helpful. You have to scroll down very far to get a decent list of commissioners since the ones actively responding tend to be the same people. And it can be hard to compare commissioners side by side. |

Like Facebook groups. ACP has a forum specifically for commissions. Here, cosplayers can post projects and commissioners can list themselves.

| Pros | Cons |
| - | - |
| ACP has a commissioner list that has ~90 commissioner for those who want to do more research before settling on one person.  | The content can be outdated. Many posts (especially the commissioner list), and their responses, are from pre-2011.  |

Due to the visual nature of cosplay, many makers use Instagram as a primary way to do business or share content. If you already have some favorite makers you follow, you can just DM them to check if they take commissions at all and if they have open slots. 

| Pros | Cons |
| - | - |
| Quickly see the past works of commissioners without having to go to separate websites, portfolios and such. | Very hard to actively find new commissioners who have open slots. This process can be more of a grind. You may have to DM many commissioners to check their statuses. |

Some commissioners have Etsy profiles and accept custom commissions. Try typing in "cosplay commission" to the search bar on Etsy and see who you can find.

One thing to keep in mind is that Etsy is not designed for custom commissions and the timeline associated with it. Commissioners will get reminders to ship out their product after ~2 weeks. This forces commissioners to click a button and fake to Etsy that they shipped it. For cosplayers, this means that buyer support and protection is generally not possible. Commissions generally take 2-6 months and is way past Etsy's usual window of support.

After facing the frustration of looking through all the sources above, we decided to collect our own list! Head to Find Makers on Coscove to see our list of verified custom costume makers. You can filter makers by location, skill level, and specific skills that are required - like EVA foam. You can also see past works, including which fandoms and characters that the maker has worked on.

We started this list because we were spending so much time looking for good commissioners and feeling overwhelmed. There are many steps from the beginning to the end of the commissioning process (read about them below!). Our goal is to make that process as smooth as possible. 

Your commissioner needs to know a couple of things about you and your project. With this information, they can figure out if they can help you and give you an accurate pricing quote. To avoid confusion, have the following information ready when reaching out. 

Reference images (Front and back view of character outfit. Other cosplay photos are a plus.)

We are working on making this process as easy and painless as we can! Wouldn't it be nice to be able to create a project brief, with all the relevant details, and send to to as many commissioners as you like? No more copying and pasting. No more retyping the same information. No more scrambling to find images in your download history. Have some thoughts? Let us know! 

After you share project information with commissioners, they will give you a rough estimate of how much the project might cost. This process can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. It depends on the commissioner's workload, team size, and the level of detail they're going through.

We have a article on the way that will go over the two most common ways to estimated commission pricing. These simple number-crunching techniques can help you check if the project is in your budget range.

In our experience, we've found that commissioners are always incredibly passionate about cosplay. They want to make cosplay accessible for as many cosplayers as possible. This is why it's important to come to the conversation with a realistic budget. Commissioners can work with you to achieve the best final product within your budget. They can play with a combination of factors such as materials, patterns, and complexity.

Do keep in mind that this quote is a best guess, and that your commissioner is only human. As humans, we tend to underestimate time needed and overestimate project progress. So don't be too surprised if there are differences between the quote and the final cost. 

However, as a best practice, you should ask your commissioner about this from the get-go. Ask about what happens if there are small misestimations, large misestimations, and if they can cap overage charges to a certain percentage of the initial quote.  

After you decide on the perfect commissioner, you will need to make a payment before any work get started. A decent chunk of money (usually 50% of the total) needs to be paid immediately. This is because commissioners need to go and buy materials, fabrics, and anything else that's needed to begin creating your costume. 

Commissioners usually offer payment plans. These plans can be on a monthly basis, or a certain percentage at different milestones or any combination depending on the needs of both parties. 

You will need to share detailed measurements of your body. This part may seems easy but a surprising number of people don't know how to measure themselves properly, and ultimately end up submitting wrong measurements. Measurements is a crucial part of the process that causes the most amount of stress for commissioners. 

Get a friend to help measure you. You can find plenty of measuring guides online (we've included one below from a guide on Etsy). If it's possible, you can go to a local tailor - that's the best way to avoid error. 

Everyone's body is shaped differently even if you wear the same clothing size. Send photos of yourself in forming fitting clothing (front and side) to your commissioner. The photos will really help them see where they might need to make adjustments from the standard patterns or sizing.

After you share your measurements. The fun part begins! Your commissioner will be doing a ton of planning, sketching, designing, and shopping. Then, depending on your project details, they will be sewing, molding, using their highly honed crafting skills and more.

In this phase, expect an update from your commissioner every week or two weeks. A good commissioning process is one where communication is going well. Your commissioner will share updates with you throughout the process. They may also invite you to voice your opinions along the way and make any tweaks as needed.

Sometimes fittings will be done as a part of the process if your project is very expensive or if you and your commissioner are in the same city. 

If you are not in the same city and want to be doubly sure that your costume will fit like a glove, you can request your commissioner to send a mockup in muslin before they use the final fabric. Extra shipping, fabric, and sewing times will add to your final cost. But if you're spending a few hundred or grand on the perfect costume, it might be worthwhile make sure it fits exactly the way you want it to.  

Always request a shipping service that requires signature and provides insurance. At this point, you have probably spent a small fortune on the costume and your commissioner has probably burnt enough midnight oil. If anything goes wrong, both of you need need need to be protected by insurance. 

If the package requires international shipping, customs officers may be opening up your package. Chances are they won't be putting your costume back in the same delicate manner your commissioner packed it with. Keep this in mind as an extra wrinkle if you are getting anything delicate shipped internationally. 

For commissioners: the best practice here is to take a photo or a short video when you're packing and share it with your client. This way your client knows the condition the package was in when it left your care. In case anything goes wrong, it will be clear that you took proper care. Here's an example for styled wigs from Nomes Cosplay.

After months of waiting, your cosplay is finally at your door. You try it on in excitement and it's absolutely perfect. But, wait - the journey doesn't stop here!

When you are sharing your photos from a photoshoot or from a con, please please please remember to tag your commissioner. Support the cosplay community by making connections. Most commissioners rely on word-of-mouth to get clients. In order to continue to provide their services to you, and to other cosplayers, commissioners need our support. 

Resources for cosplay - whether it's commissioners, DIY guides, or even cons - are hard to come by and hard to find. We've scoured Facebook and forums for too long. With Coscove, we are working to create a central place to showcase the extraordinary creations of the cosplay community. And to help cosplayers realize their cosplay dreams! If you have worked with a good commissioner, please support them by giving credit and - better yet - refer them to us!

Commissioning a custom costume doesn't have to a mysterious process. Here are some common steps starting from when you first think of who to cosplay to when the costume arrives at your door.

The costume commissioning process - from beginning to end.

If you've been on any commissioning forums or groups, then you might have seen some version of the graphic below, which is for any cosplay commission, choose two of the following: good, cheap, fast. 

A friend of mine was able to get a very high quality commission (full armor, large staff weapon, helmet) from a famous cosmaker in the Philippines for less than $400. However, it took her ~1.5 year to get in touch with the commissioner and wait in line until his slot opened up, then waited another year while he worked on this project for her. She flew to the Philippines twice while visiting family and was able to do two in person fittings for the cosplay. She absolutely loved her costume when it was finally ready to be worn after roughly three years of preparation and waiting. 

That story might be on an extreme end, but is still very relevant for all cosplay commissions. Commissioners will often browse materials and then wait until they find the most suitable pieces or until they go on sale. If you don't give your commissioner enough time, chances are you will end up with a costume that was made from materials that was available at that time, and not for the best price.  

In addition, good commissioners usually have slots filled for the next several months. So giving yourself and your commissioners enough time to work on your project is the best way to get quality costumes at an affordable price. 

For those who need good costumes fast, some commissioners may offer a rush service. The fee for this service can be up to several hundred dollars on top of of the original commission price to allow the commissioners to find additional help, put in weekend hours, or to negotiate deadlines with other clients. 

Many commissioners don't offer rush service and generally recommend at least 3-6 months lead time in advance. 

Lastly, if you need a costume very soon and don't have a large budget, consider working with a commissioner who is just starting out. The commissioner will likely have less projects concurrently and can dedicate more time to work with your deadline. These cosmakers may have been making costumes for themselves for several years but may not have professional training. They may not be used to working with body sizes and shapes that are very different from their own, and may not be used to creating costumes with professional finishes and linings. If you go this route, please be understanding and accommodating towards your commissioner and the final product. More communication may also be needed so that your commissioner can help create your costume quickly and cheaply. 

Cosplay commission tradeoffs: Fast, good, or cheap

Ever wonder what goes into the cost of a cosplay commission? Why do these custom creations have a large price tag? Today, let dive into a few of these key costs and understand what you are paying for when you order a commissioned piece.  

This one is the most obvious. It's the fabric for your costume or plastic/resin/EVA foam for your armor and props. 

Fabric usage is often underestimated. If the costume has a lining, the fabric usage will be doubled. If the commissioner needs to drape to make a pattern, a lot of muslin might be used before the final fabric. 

Costs of certain fabrics can be quite high, such as leather/vegan leather, silk velvet or other premium prints. 

One of the biggest components of commissioning cost will be labor. Depending on the complicity of the costume, commissioners spend many hours hand painting, beading, or embroidering. 

Does your cosplay involve any of the following? If so, there's a high chance that your costume will be quite costly given the labor hours required. 

Intricate details (beading, embroidery, hand painting) 

Layers (several coats of paint, several layers of fabric) 

Lastly, don't forget the time it takes your commissioner to communicate, send you updates, and accommodate requests. Your commissioner should be sending you periodic updates so you can see the progress and asking for your input if certain things are not clear. But do keep in mind that this is time that they are spending on your project and the more frequently you request updates or modifications, the more time it will take to complete your project.

A less obvious component of the commissioning cost is the time it takes to do research and design, especially if your commissioner hasn't made something similar to your commission before. 

Translating a 2D picture into 3D is a lot of work and requires research and imagination. After receiving your reference photos, the commissioner will often research your character online, look at video clips, and try to find past cosplays. One way to help your commissioner (and save some time/$$ for yourself) is to provide as clear of a picture as you can in terms of the cosplay that you want and share all your research with the commissioners.

After the commissioner has a good understanding of your costume from various angles, they will need time to plan, drape, and pattern before they can start working with the final fabric. If they have worked on similar costumes before, they can leverage a pattern they have made or used previously and adjust the sizing. Otherwise, creating a pattern from scratch can be time consuming and may require a few iterations before it achieves the final effect that you or your commissioner want.   

Notions refer to all the little components that are needed to finish your costume. 

Special buttons, trims, invisible zippers and anything is purchased for your costume will fall into this category. 

Threads, glue, sequins or anything that is not purchased specifically for your costume but was used in the process will also fall into this category and be included in the final price.

Equipment maintenance and equipment purchase is another cost that goes into the commission. 

Similar to the thread or glue example from earlier, if a machine will last the commissioner 5 years and the commissioner made 100 costumes per year, then the cost of the machine should be spread out among these 500 costumes.   

In reality, it's hard to estimate the exact years the machine will be used for or estimate the total commissions during that time, so the commissioners will often estimate this cost by adding a percentage to the total costs.  

If any travel is done to acquire materials, have in person meetings, then travel may be a component as well. 

Your commission will often pick up fabric or materials for several projects and will generally not apply the entire trip to your project alone. It can show up as a small percentage like the equipment fee from above, or it can be the actual cost divided by the number of projects that trip served.    

Don't forget that your commissioner is operating a business. 

Any costs associated with business operations like filing for taxes, renting studio space to complete projects, or marketing costs will also be spread out among the total number of commissions in a year. 

Very often, travel, equipment, and other business costs will show up all together in a cost called "overhead", which is a percentage of the total costs. E.g. if material and labor together is $500 and overhead is 20%,  your total commissioning cost (excluding shipping), will be $500 + $100 = $600 dollars 

Do research to learn how much this costume costs in premade and secondhand options and know WHY you are getting it custom made. Research commissioners on Coscove to find your perfect match.

Gather at least 2 reference photos (front & back, side view and past cosplays will be helpful too). Converting 2D to 3D is a process. The better prepared you are, the more commissioners can make your vision come true.

Measure yourself based on the measuring image your commissioner sends you. Better yet, get a friend to help. Even better, go to your local tailor and get them to measure you.

Check out our tips for how to measure if you're by yourself!

3 ways to prepare for your cosplay commission

Commissions