Anthropomorphic costuming, as a cultural and religious endeavor, is many thousands of years old. From primitive cave dwellers, to stone age shamans, from the Egyptians to the Greeks, from the Romans to modern man, people have been taking the form of animals, both real and fantastique, since primitive man first wore fur skins.

The essential purpose of costume remains the same; to transform and transcend from the common place to the special place– by changing the outward, explore the inward. To enact the mysteries of differentiation.

While the purpose is clear, the process is not. There are many ways to approach costuming and there are about as many costumes as there are ways. From elaborate mechanical devices, to extreme body changes– from large mascot attire, to figure hugging body suits. Each has a purpose and each has a design that aims to fulfill that purpose.

Our purpose is outlined in our philosophy; our design grows organically from it, defines its lexicon of materials by it, and exhibits dialectic through its construction guided by the following beliefs:

· Costumes should be safe. The ability to remove it quickly in an emergency must be the overriding design goal.

· Costumes should be sound. A costume that is good for only a few minutes in public is self-defeating.

· Costumes should be comfortable. A costume that induces pain, physical harm, and or disability is a design for failure.

· Costumes should reflect its purpose. Horror costumes should be scary, martial should be realistic, comedy should induce mirth. The mirthful clown that scares, fails.

Design begins at the drawing board, not at the cutting, sewing, or work table. Materials selection is not an afterthought but the result of purposeful experiment. Assembly is guided by measurement and thought. Above all, design is driven by requirements: what is the intended use, where will it be worn, how will it work.

Drawings and sketches are used extensively to work out concepts and sizing. Final designs are often rendered in detailed plans.

Design Approach

Our Approach to Design

Design is our way...

Costuming Anthropomorphic Hooved Creatures

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