COSplay: The thin line between copyright abuse and fanart

As the title explains, there is a very thin line between copyright abuse and fan art when it comes down to selling my own handmade cosplay outfits. You can make everything for yourself or your friends and show it to the world, but selling it as a company can be very tricky. There are some licensing companies that have the 'dips' on creating and commercially selling costumes or parts of costumes. No license means your bootlegging and actually you are not helping the fandom. Licensed products means a part of the money you spend on them goes directly to the company that made your hero happen and feeds it so it can go on and on. Giving into bootleg means your money doesn't go to what you want to support.

But I really like to make cosplay!

Now truth be told I do twist and turn it into my own creation and mix it with periodic clothing. But what if I want to use logo's and such? I can't sell that, but I can recreate the outfit without logo's. Or I find the licensed versions to use in the clothing. I want to support the fandom and yes there are big and very rich companies behind them that probably already have enough money, but they also check the popularity by looking at their sales. They can't check bootleg. Next to that, bootleg can be punished severely. If I'd have to calculate a lawsuit into my items, it would become un-affordable.

So what should I do?

I, personally, am not going to stop making costumes for myself. I will go all the way. What I can sell from that costume as made to fit, will be the blank parts. Everything that does not immediately links to something that could be licensed. Next to that, with every character I create, I will sell licensed items.

I am a fan, I support the fans, I want to help the fandom grow.

Licensed Merchandise on Samalla.nl 

Restless

I slept horribly.

Now that is not really something I would write about here, it's more a little tweet or facebook announcement for my friends. But now it's here, because of the reason why I kept twisting and turning in my sleep.

I miss designing. Now I do design a lot of things and that is not really the problem. The problem is that I have so many ideas, drafts and outrages things on paper and in my head that don't see the light of day due to several factors:

1. Commission overload. I'm making to the costumers wishes withing the costumers budget. With a 100 euro more I could really put my signature in the designs, but that's not what the commission demands.
2. Lack of budget. I see so many beautiful materials I'd love to cut but cannot afford.
3. Lack of time. When there is an event I'd love to show one of my designs, I don't really have the time to get it as I wish to make it.
4. My downgrading mindset. There is this marketing voice in my head that I need to make it sell-able.

Due to this I cannot really say what distinguishes me from other corset designers and historical sewing companies, other then my great personality.

So some limitations that doesn't make me cross the line from comfort base to signature base kept me awake at night. I like doing the straight on historical sewing. I even learned a lot from it and I'm still learning, but there is a monster inside of me that wants to get out.

The monster needs a plan.

I'm going to hold off any new big commissions. I'll do the corsets and I'll do the commissions I already said I would do, but the rest of my sewing time goes straight into my monster. I'm letting go of the 'wouldn't prices scare them off' or 'is it sell-able as it is'. From everything I have designed, most want it a bit different anyway.

Now the budget issue. I will have to start on the materials I have now (which is a lot) and since a month or so I retail licensed merchandise. It will have to do.


Back to what I was and felt comfortable with. That girl in fashion academy that never went into the mainstream of the class.

Let's see how well I sleep tonight.

Art for Art: 17th century weddingdress

I personally don't give to charity. Donating money that is. The problem with donating money to charity, is that only a fraction of that money goes where it's supposed to be. Or they have no clue on what to spend it and buy promotional shirts. That bugs me, because I want to give to the people in need, and not to the bosses that run the show. Because it is a show. A charity fund is a company. It has an office and employees. Some volunteers. Promoting your charity costs money, employees cost money and, what has been hot topic around here a lot, the bosses cost a crazy lot of money. I won't pay for his villa, I want the full 100% to go where you promised me it would go.

So, I'm not a greedy little bastard that doesn't want to give. I just look around to see where I can actually help and see the result. Now I'm not the type that jumps on a plane and help protesters, nurse babies or builds new homes. But what I can do is help something close to my heart and home what is in dire need.

There was this call for help I saw via via on FaceBook: Wanted: A dress somewhat like this for a theater performance. Looking at the dress, I wanted to make it. And I could make it. So I contacted them. I'll make the dress and just want it back after the performances are over. This is my charity this year. Art and theater are very much down on funds and we need to help each other. They have the dress they need, I got a bit of promo.

Now I don't have a lot of money to go around myself, so the dress wouldn't be in historical correct fabrics. That would cost a fortune. But for a stage dress I could use modern fabrics. I went for aqua satin and black taft silk. Looking for the gold details is hard outside of Christmas season for a reasonable price. I found something similar in shape, just not as grotesque. The lace/embroided collar and cuffs were a challenge too, but I got some embroided finish and voile.

Report on Grachtenfestival Amsterdam 2013

This dress could be viewed on the Theater over het Ij festival and Grachtenfestival
The play is called 'Lege Dagen' and is directed by Kasper Kapteijn.
Performing actress is Nadia van Vuuren

The dress was sold after the performances.