Fursuit
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The term fursuit is believed to have been coined in 1993 by Robert King and is usually used to describe custom-made animal costumes owned and worn by cosplayers or members of the furry fandom, commonly known as "furries"; a furry who wears a fursuit is called a fursuiter.[1]: 13 Unlike mascot suits, which are usually affiliated with a team or organization, fursuits represent a stand-alone character. Although those outside of the fandom typically refer to them as costumes, many furries prefer to refer to them as fursuits due to them typically being a personal expression instead of a costume.[citation needed]
Fursuit construction
Fursuits originated due to the dissatisfaction with the quality of shoddy mass-produced mascot costumes.[2] Fursuit making is a growing industry, with new costume makers who handcraft custom suits entering the market every week.[3] Others make their own fursuits from scratch.[4] In order to make them fit correctly, many fursuit makers utilize "duct tape dummies" that are made of the wearer's body.[5]
They are made with faux fur that is sometimes sourced from places like the Los Angeles Fashion District.[3] A single suit can take more than 200 hours of work and sell for thousands of dollars.[3][6][2]
Fursuits can be expensive to clean,[7] although many modern-day suits are machine-washable.[3]
Types of fursuits
Besides the typical full-body suit, other variations include the partial suit, which only has a mask, gloves, a tail, and possibly feet, with regular clothing covering the rest of the body. Three-quarter suits also include part of the body, like the torso or legs. This type of fursuit works well for characters who only wear a shirt without pants or just a pair of pants without a shirt[1][page needed] Quadsuits are one of the most challenging and expensive types of costumes to make, and involve the wearer walking on all fours with arm extensions to create a stronger illusion of being a real animal.[8]
Fursuits can range from cartoon-styled to hyper-realistic.[2] The most popular animals for fursuits to be based on are dogs and big cats.[3] They may also be based on fictional animal hybrids.[3] Some suits may include integrated technology, such as LED lights.[3]
In culture
Fursuits are heavily associated with the furry fandom by the general public, despite the fact that only 15 percent of its members own a fursuit, mainly due to their cost being prohibitively high.[4] Furries who own a fursuit often base them on a "fursona", an anthropomorphic character that represents themselves.[2]
They are usually worn to furry conventions such as Anthrocon.[2] Some fursuits of existing characters are made for the purposes of cosplay and are worn to anime or gaming conventions. They are also worn in public, though this typically requires a spotter to ensure the safety of the performer.
See also
References
- ^ a b Riggs, Adam (2004). Critter Costuming: Making Mascots and Fabricating Fursuits. Ibexa Press. ISBN 0-9678170-7-2.
- ^ a b c d e Brown, Meg (2017-03-26). "The Fursuit of Happiness". Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built + Natural Environments. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g Wall, Kim (2016-02-04). "It's not about sex, it's about identity: why furries are unique among fan cultures". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ a b "'It's Not a Fetish': An Interview with One of the World's Leading Furry Researchers". Vice. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ "Furries Tell Us How They Figured Out They Were Furries". Vice. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ "'Furries' Descend On Golden Triangle". WTAE-TV. June 16, 2006. Archived from the original on July 3, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Maass, Dave (2007-10-07). "Fluff Piece". Santa Fe Reporter. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Parker, Sydney (2015-07-09). "The Fursuit of Happiness: High Fashion in Furry Fandom". Racked. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
External links
