BEFORE WE BEGIN...

Many of my techniques, both for the outfit designing/creation and for the mask making, are the product of my experiences designing and constructing costumes. It is difficult to cite any specific or concrete sources for these tips and tricks because they are predominantly the result of my own self-teaching. I have been cosplaying (or, in layman's terms, conceptualizing, creating and modeling costumes based on pop-culture characters) since eighth grade. The creative decisions and actions that I utilized in this project, for both the mask and the outfit, were the result of all my past efforts creating or altering clothing, many times from thrifted items, so as to remain cost effective and sustainable (see examples above). 

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In many ways, this project is a roundabout way for me to combine my love of cosplay and design with my passion for environmental justice. By creating a project that is more broadly appealing, I can introduce these concepts  to more people, and hopefully inspire them to incorporate environmentally conscious decisions into their own lifestyles and art styles.

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