Fursuit

A model sheet used as part of the design and built process for constructing a fursuit.

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.

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] 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

A large group of 'fursuiters', furries who wear fursuits, at Anthrocon 2010.

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

  1. 1 2 Riggs, Adam (2004). Critter Costuming: Making Mascots and Fabricating Fursuits. Ibexa Press. ISBN 0-9678170-7-2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Brown, Meg (2017-03-26). "The Fursuit of Happiness". Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built + Natural Environments. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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.
  4. 1 2 "‘It’s Not a Fetish’: An Interview with One of the World’s Leading Furry Researchers". Vice. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  5. ↑ "Furries Tell Us How They Figured Out They Were Furries". Vice. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  6. ↑ "'Furries' Descend On Golden Triangle". WTAE-TV. June 16, 2006. Archived from the original on July 3, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
  7. ↑ Maass, Dave (2007-10-07). "Fluff Piece". Santa Fe Reporter. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  8. ↑ Parker, Sydney (2015-07-09). "The Fursuit of Happiness: High Fashion in Furry Fandom". Racked. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
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