Martel Lango makes a living out of designing and constructing costumes, props and masks. It’s his only job, and he loves it.
For many Dragon Con attendees, dressing up as their favorite characters is a hobby — sometimes a very serious one, as many have garnered a significant social media following and online influence by posting about their passion. These cosplayers need props, masks or special accessories for their costumes, and they may commission others to make these for them.
The market bears that out. Cosplayers spent $11.7 billion on costumes in 2014, according to Shanghai-based research firm CRI. That number was expected to grow in 2019 to about $23.6 billion.
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