by Helen Geter
Almost everyone has dressed up in costume at least once. Since the 1960s and the explosion of the science fiction genre with shows like Star Trek, many people have been fascinated with characters from other dimensions. Combine this with the advent of Japanese manga and anime fiction in the 1970s and a new movement was born.
Coined by Japanese manga publisher, Takahashu Nubuyuki, the term “cosplay” — the merging of “costume” and “play” — arrived on the pop culture scene. Fans of comic book heroes joined the fray with worldwide conventions like ComicCon in the 1980s. Today, cosplay is a $6 billion industry and continues to grow.
On a more personal level, cosplay is centered around connection and imagination. No one knows this more than one of our loyal customers, Amanda. She entered the cosplay world as a way to socialize, and she’s never looked back.
Amanda, or @goldchickadee on Instagram, studied theatre in college, and cosplay became a natural extension of her creative and social spheres. Taught by her mother and grandmother to sew by the age of four, Amanda isn’t afraid to create with all types of materials like her favorite polyester poplin or zip ties from the hardware store.
One of her favorite patterns is for a corset from Simplicity, which she says has morphed into “the basis of so many other shapes.” This practice and more have helped build her confidence over the years and now she is proud to be “really good at making patterns.” In fact, Amanda tells us that more of the clothing in her house are cosplay outfits than regular clothes.
At The Sewing Studio, Amanda frequents the polyester fabric wall (see photo). “I love using anything on the polyester wall, like how it behaves, that it’s washable, and will not crumple up in a suitcase. I love the spandex section, and use it for making gloves, leggings, and tight-fitting shirts.”
Over the last few years, Amanda and her husband (@aesthicus.io), have won cosplay competitions which have included trips to the Netherlands and Singapore. In July, she won third place at the Nordic Cosplay Championship 2026 in Sweden, representing Team USA as Gammoth with Female Armor from Monster Hunter Generations.
For new cosplayer enthusiasts, Amanda wants you to remember that “the type of needle you pick is so important. Ask the ladies for the correct size needle you need for your fabric.”
Thank you for sharing a part of your creative journey with our community at The Sewing Studio Fabric Superstore Amanda, and we look forward to seeing more of your cosplay in the future.
