Amanda Swafford in an Egyptian Mina belly dance set. Photography by Photos by Luna
He who works with his hands
is a laborer… he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman…
he who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.– St Francis of Assisi
We’ve had some questions recently about making replicas. People inquiring about custom work sometimes make the assumption that the closer the copy to the original movie costume or video game art the better.
I admire the diverse craft skills required to make replicas, but that is not what we do. This is for two reasons:
WEARABILITY – Our materials are not historic. Nobody else has ever used them like we do, as far as we know. So from the start our work is going to be different than the originals. Did you know that Carmen Miranda’s fruit headdress was made in part from plaster! My god that must have been heavy. We use almost no other materials but our unique amalgam of rubber, fiber and acrylic.
We make costumes that people want to put on a second time. They are comfortable, well balanced, easy to fit and move in.
ARTISTRY – Paul designs in collaboration with the customer and, indirectly, with the makers of the original inspiration, as well as all the people those makers were inspired by. He reads all the notes, has extensive conversations, researches the back stories. Then it all comes through his hands and mind and heart and is made anew.
So while we strive to capture the essence and form of specific characters when commissioned to do so, it will never be a replica.