Star Wars + Costuming + Charity = Winning! Michael Harris takes us on his Fettquest for a Mando suit!
Nowadays, every major city or metropolitan area has some form of convention. Sure, events like San Diego Comic Con and Star Wars Celebration are big draws, but conventions are everywhere, and new ones are popping up all the time. In the Chicagoland area that I hail from, there is C2E2 in the spring and Wizard World Chicago in the fall. These conventions draw large amounts of fans of all different genres, and for a lot of fans it’s a chance to express themselves by dressing up as their favorite characters. Cosplay has become very popular, and Star Wars costumes are no exception.
Actually, I’ll rephrase that.
Star Wars costuming has gone above and beyond cosplay; it is a lifestyle. It has become a force (ha) for spreading hope and positivity in the world. The first time I saw the 501st–the premier Star Wars costuming group–I knew I had to be a part of it!
A while back, my son and I attended a theme night for the Kane County Cougars, a local baseball team in our area. I have very little interest in sports, but we are pretty fond of Star Wars, so we decided to check it out. It turned out to be a larger event than I had imagined. Stormtroopers were there, as well as Darth Vader and others. I was impressed with the quality of the armor that I saw. These guys and gals knew what they were doing, but the truly awe-inspiring piece was seeing the impact that they had with the kids in attendance.
As an adult, it’s easy to forget that these are larger-than-life heroes and villains that have captured kids’ imaginations, and seeing them in person is very powerful. I saw it that night through my son’s eyes. He loved having his picture taken with every character.
After researching this, I also learned that no one charges for an appearance. These events raise funds for local and worldwide charities. So you mean I can learn how to build a costume, look really cool, attend amazing events AND raise money for some great organizations? Sold!
But where do I start?
I spent some time reading through forums and was interested in a group called the Mandalorian Mercs. Mandos and their culture were, to me, some of the best parts of the lore of the galaxy! This group specializes in Mando armor building and culture and emphasizes putting the wearer’s own custom take on their design. As long as you follow the guidelines and requirements, you can make a unique Mandalorian.
I had no experience with costuming, so I felt that the freedom of doing something little reference footage on screen for was the best bet for me. Not that it was going to be easy. There was a lot of late nights reading the forums and studying other people’s journeys, and I thought I was ready to take my first step.
I ordered my helmet. There are instructions out there to build your own, but my skills are not yet up to that level, so I found a reputable seller. When it arrived, I took it out of the box and felt alive. It was untrimmed, unpainted and didn’t even have the visor cut out, but I immediately put it on. My plan was to focus on the helmet first and work down from there. So far it’s been just over a year, and here is my progress!
Dissapointed? Me too. I really did have high hopes, but sometimes life gets in the way. I work a lot, I had a baby last March, and I just couldn’t focus on it. So instead of letting it go to waste, I painted it white and put it on display. It looks pretty nice in there, and I admire it everyday so it wasn’t a complete waste.
It also taunts me everyday: something started and nowhere near complete. Well, no more. It’s a new year and a chance for a new start. I’m pulling it out of the display and making it my labor-of-love project for 2016! Here goes nothing!
If you are interested, check out Mandalorianmercs.org. There is a wealth of knowledge and help on the forums from a great group of people. Check it out and armor up!
Mike Harris hails from the suburbs of Chicago and has been a fan for most of his life. Working as an industrial radiographer and raising a family with his wife take up most of his time, but there’s always room for Star Wars books and podcasts! Just looking to give back to Star Wars and the fan community, it’s been a source of fun and learning for him for so long.