Youmacon, a convention dedicated to anime and pop culture, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Detroit. The event draws thousands of fans who gather for celebrity guests, vendors, musical performances, and of course, the highlight – cosplay.
Cosplay has become an integral part of the convention, with fans dressing up as their favorite characters often by handcrafting intricate costumes. Emily Wallin-Kale, who leads Youmacon's cosplay department, notes that the trend has grown significantly over the past decade, with corporate sponsors now backing the event. "We literally start in January," she says, explaining how her team reaches out to companies to secure prize sponsorships, which have increased to $7,000 this year.
The prizes are carefully curated to appeal to cosplayers, including gift cards for Arda Wigs, We Love Colors, The Foamory, Siser North America, and Bernette sewing machines. Wallin-Kale recalls attending sewing expos around 2013 as a cosplayer and notes that people once thought it was unusual to wear costumes. However, cosplay has become more mainstream, with events like Youmacon showcasing the creativity and community that surrounds this hobby.
This year's event will feature "make-and-take" cosplay workshops sponsored by Bernette and other brands, allowing attendees to learn how to make their own costumes in a hands-on setting. The Integrated Cosplay Contest is also expected to draw participants from around the world, with winners set to compete in Spain, Portugal, and Japan.
Wallin-Kale says that one of her favorite things about cosplay is its ability to bring people together and transcend borders. She recalls attending international events like Clara Cow's Cosplay Cup in the Netherlands, where she found a community eager to share resources and help each other with last-minute costume fixes.
As for herself, Wallin-Kale plans to dress up as Hatsune Miku, an anime pop star from Japan, at this year's event. She notes that it's a privilege to be part of this community, which has become like a second family to her. Youmacon runs from October 30th to November 2nd, with tickets starting at $75 and available on the website youmacon.com.
Cosplay has become an integral part of the convention, with fans dressing up as their favorite characters often by handcrafting intricate costumes. Emily Wallin-Kale, who leads Youmacon's cosplay department, notes that the trend has grown significantly over the past decade, with corporate sponsors now backing the event. "We literally start in January," she says, explaining how her team reaches out to companies to secure prize sponsorships, which have increased to $7,000 this year.
The prizes are carefully curated to appeal to cosplayers, including gift cards for Arda Wigs, We Love Colors, The Foamory, Siser North America, and Bernette sewing machines. Wallin-Kale recalls attending sewing expos around 2013 as a cosplayer and notes that people once thought it was unusual to wear costumes. However, cosplay has become more mainstream, with events like Youmacon showcasing the creativity and community that surrounds this hobby.
This year's event will feature "make-and-take" cosplay workshops sponsored by Bernette and other brands, allowing attendees to learn how to make their own costumes in a hands-on setting. The Integrated Cosplay Contest is also expected to draw participants from around the world, with winners set to compete in Spain, Portugal, and Japan.
Wallin-Kale says that one of her favorite things about cosplay is its ability to bring people together and transcend borders. She recalls attending international events like Clara Cow's Cosplay Cup in the Netherlands, where she found a community eager to share resources and help each other with last-minute costume fixes.
As for herself, Wallin-Kale plans to dress up as Hatsune Miku, an anime pop star from Japan, at this year's event. She notes that it's a privilege to be part of this community, which has become like a second family to her. Youmacon runs from October 30th to November 2nd, with tickets starting at $75 and available on the website youmacon.com.
. Cosplay has come a long way since Emily Wallin-Kale's sewing expo days, but it's still all about the community and creativity 
. It's amazing to see how something that was once seen as unusual has become mainstream and is now being celebrated globally 
. The fact that youmacon is able to bring people together from around the world through cosplay is truly special 
.
it's amazing to see how it's brought so many people together across borders 
the creativity and talent that goes into those costumes is truly inspiring 
I've seen some of the work from this year's event already and I'm just blown away by the level of detail and craftsmanship 
7,000 dollar prize sponsorships? Who knew cosplaying could be so lucrative 
but seriously, it's awesome to see how Youmacon has grown into a global community for cosplayers 
I'm so hyped about Youmacon's 20th anniversary!!! It just goes to show how far cosplay has come! 
Remember when people thought it was weird to wear costumes? 
Now, corporations are backing the event and cosplayers get to win prizes like Bernette sewing machines 
. It's awesome to see how cosplaying has become more mainstream and how it allows people from all over the world to share their creativity 
. Bernette sewing machines are a total game changer for cosplayers and it's awesome that they're sponsoring those make-and-take workshops 
. I'm definitely gonna check out those "make-and-take" workshops this year - learning to sew my own cosplay would be a dream come true 
... I mean, I get why people love it, but some fans take it too far, you know? They spend so much time and money on those costumes, it's like they're trying to win an award or something 
. And the obsession can be crazy, people will go nuts over a single character or fandom, it's like they're in a cult or something 
.
that's amazing!