Concept | Electric BodyWear¶
5 Ws Who, What, When, Where, Why, how?¶
how is what you will start defining in your process pages
who¶
My sister loves cosplay, and I’ve had the privilege of creating many costumes for her. Since she has limited mobility and uses a wheelchair, I design her costumes to be functional, comfortable, and easy to adapt for seated use. Traditional cosplay outfits are often made with standing poses in mind, so I focus on ensuring she can easily transition from a relaxed position to fully embodying the character.
Comfort and safety are my top priorities. Anything that could scratch or break the skin poses serious risks, so I’ve had to rethink how I integrate electronics and intricate details. Instead of placing electronics inside the costume, we use a protective barrier or attach them to a bodysuit worn underneath. This method not only keeps her safe but also simplifies adjusting placements.
Adapting these techniques has allowed me to create inclusive, visually stunning costumes that bring her favorite characters to life while prioritizing her comfort and enjoyment.
- Accessible Design: Costumes are adapted for wheelchair use and seated positions.
- Safety First: Avoid sharp elements to prevent skin irritation or injury.
- Electronics Placement: Attach components to a bodysuit instead of the costume’s interior.
- Ease of Use: Designs allow smooth transitions into character poses.
- Inclusive Costumes: Focus on comfort, functionality, and visual appeal.
what¶
A versatile bodysuit designed to be worn under cosplay costumes, offering both functionality and style. This innovative piece doubles as shapewear, providing a seamless silhouette while enhancing the overall fit and appearance of the costume. It is equipped with integrated electronics that connect directly to the costume, including built-in lights strategically placed to add an extra layer of flair and vibrancy to the design.
The bodysuit also includes a secure compartment for the battery pack, ensuring a reliable power source for all electronic components. For costumes featuring wings or similar accessories, the suit is designed to hold a durable backplate, providing essential support and stability. This all-in-one solution not only streamlines the setup process but also enhances the wearer's comfort and mobility, making it an essential addition to any cosplayer's wardrobe.
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Multi-functional bodysuit: Designed to be worn under cosplay costumes. Shapewear functionality: Provides a seamless silhouette and enhances the fit and appearance of the costume.
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Integrated electronics: Connects directly to the costume, ensuring seamless operation of electronic components.
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Built-in lights: Strategically placed to add extra flair and vibrancy to the costume.
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Battery pack compartment: Includes a secure space to hold the battery pack, powering all electronic components.
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Support for wings/backplate: Features a design that accommodates a durable backplate for wings or other large costume accessories.
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Enhanced comfort and mobility: Streamlines setup and improves wearability for the user.
when and where¶
The costumes are designed to be worn during cosplay competitions on stage, fully embodying the character, as well as while navigating the Comic-Con floor in a wheelchair. Since it's common for attendees to request photos with the character, it is essential that any costume elements removed for comfort while seated can be easily reattached or adjusted for photographs. This ensures the character's appearance remains authentic and complete for these moments.
Designed for:
- Cosplay competitions on stage.
- Comic-Con floor use in a wheelchair.
Key features:
- Easy reattachment of removed costume parts for photos.
- Maintains authentic character appearance.
why¶
Traditionally, cosplay costumes are worn over shapewear, with various elements and accessories attached directly to the costume itself. However, this approach can present challenges, particularly when considering the weight and movement of the outfit. Heavy or poorly secured components can hinder mobility and create discomfort.
In many cases, cosplayers use additional belts and straps over their shapewear to secure electronics or other bulky items. While functional, this setup often results in a cumbersome and restrictive costume that is difficult to move in. A more efficient solution involves integrating shapewear with as many electronics and structural components as possible into a single, unified suit. This approach streamlines the design, making the cosplay lighter and easier to move in.
By securely attaching bulkier items directly to the body and layering the costume on top, mobility is improved, and the overall experience becomes more comfortable. This method also minimizes the need for sewing electronics or structural elements directly into the costume, reducing the complexity of the construction process and allowing for a cleaner, more polished final look.
- raditional cosplay uses shapewear under the costume with elements attached to the costume itself.
- This approach can cause issues with weight and restrict movement.
- Belts and straps are often added over shapewear to secure electronics, making it bulky and uncomfortable.
- Combining shapewear with electronics in a single suit reduces bulk and improves mobility.
- Bulky items are securely attached to the body, with the costume layered on top.
- This minimizes the need for sewing electronics into the costume, simplifying construction.
how¶
I plan to create a custom bodysuit tailored to meet all of my sister's specific needs for shapewear, designed with her comfort and preferences in mind. The suit will be dyed to match her exact skin tone, ensuring a seamless and natural appearance. On top of this bodysuit, I will integrate a battery pack to power the electronic components.
The design includes LED lights, which which would have been strategically placed on the reverse side of the costume are now on the bodysuit connected using conductive thread. These LEDs will be programmable, offering customizable lighting patterns and the potential to incorporate sound effects for added impact.
Additionally, all the electronic components will connect to a backplate I created during Fab Academy 2024. This backplate, which serves as the base for the wings, will be designed to attach securely to the bodysuit.
A key consideration in this project is making the bodysuit washable. I aim to ensure it can be easily rinsed out without damaging the integrated electronics or shapewear functionality. This combination of comfort, practicality, and advanced features will result in a versatile and innovative costume.
- Create a custom bodysuit tailored for my sister's shapewear needs.
- Dye the bodysuit to match her exact skin tone for a seamless look.
- Integrate a battery pack to power electronic components.
- Attach programmable LED lights using conductive thread on the reverse side of the costume.
- Add functionality for customizable lighting patterns and optional sound effects.
- Connect all electronics to a backplate designed during Fab Academy 2024, which will also support wings.
- Design the backplate to be attachable and detachable from the bodysuit.
- Ensure the bodysuit is washable and easy to maintain without damaging the electronics.
Photo by Bela Rofe on Fabricademy 2019-20
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