How much does a custom made costume cost?

Custom made costumes vary greatly in price depending on the time needed and materials required.

The price depends on variants of the following:

• How long it takes to define the pattern
• how many fittings are required?
• How long it takes to cut out all the peices
• are the pieces lined?
• how expensive is the fabric?
• how much fabric?
• how long will it take to sew?
• how much hand sewing is involved?
• how much detailing is there? applique? beading?
• how quickly do you you need it? Does everything else need to be pushed aside to concentrate on it, or can I take my time and research other projects simultaneously?

I once made a Robin hoof outfit and the materials alone cost $500, and 45 hours. We could have used cheaper options, faux leather, not lined the cape, cheap cotton rather than special soft shirt linen at $40 a metre, but the client wanted a top of the range costume. The real deal. All the layers, like a movie star. So I gave it.

I recently made a playboy bunny: black corset, ruched hot pants, ears, tail, cuffs and collar. The materials alone for that cost over $100, and it took me 2 days and 2 fittings to really get the clients body shape right. She went to her party and stood out like a star because not everyone goes to that type of effort. It was clearly not a shop bought off the rack costume. In fact, the reason she came to me in the end was because after all her searches on line and in costume stores, she couldn’t find the right kind of costume that was well made and fit her body shape beautifully.

The materials for the playboy bunny cost $115, and 16 hours, which included 2 fittings.

The fabrics we used were top quality, and the design was tailored to her taste, so she was fabulous and comfortable. It’s not only what you wear, but how you feel in it. Does it represent you accurately?

One-off children’s costumes can cost $50 for toddlers, $150 to $350 for older kids. It really depends on the detail and amount of work required. Most of the time I’m making them up from scratch. There are costumes mass produced for children these days and available at prices I simply can not compete with. They involve thousands of costumes at a time made in factories whose conditions I can only speculate on. Not all mass produced items require sweatshop conditions, but it’s usually reflected in the price.  Besides all that, to sit down and work out one costume takes time. If it was to be repeated, then that cuts the time down, and subsequent items can then be made with less expense.

Custom made costumes for adults average $250 to $800. The price per replication can come down per item.

Mascot costumes can cost $2000 to $5000, because of the time and effort it takes to purchase the materials, using strong but light bases, constructing shape and then covering the shape.

Every job is new and different. Send an enquiry and I can get back to you with my best quotes.