15 Fantastic Gifts That Every Cosplayer Would Love

(photo credit: Donald Tong from Pexels)

Cosplay (short for “costume play”) is a popular hobby among fans of anime, manga, comics, video games, books, and other media. People who do cosplay are called cosplayers. They dress up as characters from a movie, series, book, or video game.

Most cosplayers spend a lot of time and effort to perfect their costumes and props, and they even study their characters thoroughly to portray them accurately, down to the smallest gestures. It’s an understatement to say that cosplayers are passionate about their craft. That said, what gift could make a cosplayer happy? If you’re lucky to have one in your life, here are a few ideas to get started.

Wig

Many characters in anime, comics, and video games tend to have colorful hair that’s not natural to people. For that reason, wigs are indispensable parts of every cosplayer’s armor. High-quality wigs can be pricey, though. Help out a cosplayer friend by getting the wig they want for a character.

You could ask them about it to ensure you get the right one since an accurate hairstyle is a detail that cosplayers pay close attention to. If you don’t want to ruin the surprise, ask them about their cosplay plans and look up the character. Browse the internet for shops that sell wigs for that character. Read the reviews, and compare the actual wig to the character’s hairstyle before buying. Your giftee will be so thrilled to receive your present.

Hair Products and Accessories

Many wigs, even high-quality ones, need a few modifications to perfectly capture the character’s hairstyle. That’s why consider giving your friend hair products, such as professional hair-cutting shears, hair sprays, combs, and clippers. Those are super helpful for cosplaying, especially if you make your own costumes and customize your wigs.

Costume

Since building a cosplay from scratch or altering an existing costume can be incredibly time-consuming and expensive, costume gifts are much appreciated for cosplayers. If you feel confident with your sewing skills, you could make them a costume. That said, you must talk to your friend about the character they’d like to cosplay and ask them what they’re looking for in a costume. Consider materials and colors, too. Your cosplayer friend will feel lucky to get a gift made especially for them. They’ll appreciate the time, effort, and thought you’ve put into making their gift.

Cosplay DVD or Blu-ray set

A DVD or Blu-ray set of anime or manga or a movie based on your friend’s character would be a fantastic gift. You could even ask them which one they want, so you can decide what to get. Some DVDs or Blu-ray sets may not be available in your area, so purchase your gift a month or so ahead to allot time for shipping and delays.

The good news is that plenty of small shops now sell merchandise from overseas, such as anime DVDs or Blu-ray sets from Japan. You only need to Google these online shops or visit anime forums to find them. Make sure to check that the DVD or Blu-ray you buy has subtitles if your friend doesn’t understand the language.

Leather Kit

Cosplayers use many different materials for their costumes, and leather is one of the most versatile materials among them. It’s used for crafting armor, accessories, props, and even shoes. A leather kit would make a handy gift for cosplayers because it contains everything they need to make the pieces they couldn’t find elsewhere or don’t have time to sew themselves. It’s perfect for beginners who are just starting with sewing leather.

Jewelry-Making Kit

Photo by Maksim Goncharenok from Pexels

It’s said that jewelry is the ultimate cosplay prop because there are no limits to what you can design. Consider getting a jewelry-making kit as a gift for your cosplayer friend. It will allow your friend to make their own accessories and even props or start learning how to do it. If your friend is a beginner at jewelry making, make sure your gift includes an instruction guide, basic tools, and all the supplies (e.g., plastic models, metal sheets, wires, and embellishments) needed to start making jewelry right away.

Sewing Machine

Cosplayers are always making costumes, and there’s nothing as handy as a good machine that can handle their workload. If they already have one, check if they could use an upgrade. It could also be helpful to have one made explicitly for leatherwork since many cosplays use leather. You could also get them tools and supplies for sewing, so they have everything they need to get started.

Patterns or Books

Many cosplayers make their costumes and props themselves. Picking up a few sewing patterns or craft books would help them out with their hobby even more. They could also use the patterns to sew different pieces for their costumes or make other clothes for everyday wear. You can also find free patterns online, which you can compile for your friends and make into a personalized book. They’ll appreciate the thought and energy you put into making the gift.

Makeup

Cosplayers like to experiment with their looks, and you can see many of them using makeup. A makeup set would make an excellent gift for cosplayers because it contains everything they need to look like the character they are cosplaying. Cosplayers often will go through many products since changing your face to look like another requires a lot of makeup. Getting them quality makeup as a gift will be a great help. Plus, makeup is also handy for everyday use.

Cosplay Materials

You could also buy cosplay materials for your cosplayer friend if they’re making their own costume. Most materials can be found online or in craft stores. If you want to get your cosplayer friend a super special present, you could save up a little and afford premium materials. Nothing is more fun and motivating than having the best materials possible for your cosplay project.

Lightsaber, Guns, and Other Replicas

Image from Medieval Collectibles

If your friend is into Star Wars, kendo, or any fighting game or anime with swords or other kinds of weapons, a good replica would be the perfect gift for them. Huge fans of anime, movies, video games, and other media would positively be ecstatic to receive a realistic replica of a weapon from their favorite show or era. It doesn’t matter whether they can use the replica for cosplay or not.

Body Paints

Cosplayers use body paints to add detail to their costumes and make themselves stand out in the crowd. Body paints aren’t commonly available in stores, so if you want to buy one for your cosplayer friend, you’ll need to find it online. Makeup stores sometimes carry body paints too. Discuss it with your cosplayer friend in advance so you can buy the right colors for their character. Make sure to ask about any allergies to body paint too.

Clothes or Accessories

If you’re planning to surprise a cosplayer friend with a formal outfit, make sure that it’s from the same anime or manga series as their cosplay. You don’t want to give them the wrong outfit. For cosplayers who prefer casual clothes and accessories, there are tons of those out there too. Go for official anime merchandise or those designed by indie artists. Alternatively, you can get them personalized accessories such as a custom phone case, mug, blanket, or T-shirt that feature their favorite characters or series.

Customized Pins

No cosplayer will refuse a unique custom pin printed or carved into their favorite anime character! They can wear these custom pins to participate in comic cons, comic lovers' clubs, film theme activities, and other related occasions. complementing their costumes with these small accessories, custom pins can give the best experience for them -- and no manufacturer has quite the mixture of high quality and low price that GS-JJ has.

Cosplay Tutorials

Online tutorials are a massive help for cosplayers because it can be hard to find the time to practice their craft. If you want to give your cosplayer friend a present that they’ll use all the time, you could compile some video tutorials or printouts of the ones they like. It doesn’t have to be an expensive gift either, just something that would help them make their costumes more detailed.

Gift Card

A gift card for a craft store is always welcome for cosplayers. You could get one for the store where your cosplayer friend likes to shop for their materials, or you could give them a general craft store gift card. Gift cards are always useful because they give the recipient freedom over what to get.

Final Thoughts

Cosplaying is no easy feat. After all, it takes hours of work and careful attention to detail to create a costume that looks good and stays on throughout pictures, panels, and other events. Show your support by giving your cosplayer friend gifts that they can use for their passion.