#FeatureFriday with Fairwind Cosplay

Today I'm pretty excited to share Fairwind Cosplay on my blog. She's such a great person and creates even better cosplay content! Read her interview below.

How and when did you get into cosplay?
I first discovered cosplay back when I was in seventh grade around 2004-2005, and was just starting to get back into anime and manga after growing up watching Pokemon, Sailor Moon, and Gundam Wing, just to name a few. I stumbled upon a Sailor Moon fansite in which people showed off their handmade costumes and I was floored! I had no idea that people created their own costumes to show their love of a series, and as a kid who played dressup every moment she could, I knew that I wanted to take part in this hobby! I didn’t start cosplaying until 2008, though: my first costume was the Pokemon trainer from the FireRed/LeafGreen games. Oh boy. There was a lot of felt that went into that particular costume. I had a blast at New York Comic Con though!

How did you come up with your cosplay name?
I created the “Fairwind” moniker while playing around with fake website names during a high school HTML class. I loved the sound of those two words together and ran with it. I’ve had it since 2010, but didn’t start branding my cosplay work until about 2013.

What do you do when you're not in cosplay or geeking out?
I’m a professional actor and a first-year English teacher! I’ve performed musicals, straight plays, Shakespeare, and more during my career. I also work as a princess entertainer and party motivator, which brings so much joy to little kids. I’m so lucky that many of my jobs allow me to dress up and play! I also collect Pokedoll merchandise and am getting into DSLR photography.

How do you choose your next cosplay?
Usually, it’s a strange spark of inspiration that hits me when I see a wig or some fashion piece that reminds me of a character. I start thinking, “hey, I could make that if I played around with this,” and then I start my research. I primarily make my own props and style my own wigs, but as I’m not a super talented seamstress, the majority of my costumes are made from heavily reconstructed or altered garments. I love to transform pieces into costumes! I like to think that I have a good eye for alterations.

Who is your cosplay idol/inspiration?
​I really admire VintageAerith’s work so much! I met her at NYCC/NYAF back in 2009 and have followed her cosplays ever since! Her costumes are always so beautifully constructed and she embodies her characters to the fullest. I also appreciate Mango Sirene’s instructional videos, dedication to craftsmanship, and vlogs as well.

What cosplay(s) are you working on right now?
​I just finished Muffy from the Harvest Moon video game series, and I’m working on Zatanna from the DC Comics Justice League!

​What is your dream cosplay?
My dream cosplay is Ariel’s seafoam gown from the current Disneyworld Meet and Greets. I have the materials for it, but it’s such a big and overwhelming project that I’m actually really terrified of it. I was also lucky enough to have worn one of my childhood dream cosplays, Human Luna from Sailor Moon, at my first Katsucon this year! My friend Shinitama Cosplays made it for me and I absolutely feel like a space princess when I’m wearing this ethereal gown.

What is a random fun fact about you as a cosplayer or one of your cosplays?
99 percent of the time, I will talk to you in-character at a convention if you ask me for a photo. I treat cosplay the way I treat acting: there’s a character you’re committed to playing, so why not answer as them? I love when people react to their favorite characters! I also cosplay with my sister Aurelian Cosplay and we LOVE hitting the con floor together!

I was the recent featured Cosplay Guest of Immortal Con on Long Island, where I had a booth, acted as a judge for the cosplay contest, and participated in a fashion show. It was a lot of fun and I was really honored to hold a guest title!

Do you have any cosplay or convention pet peeves?
I know this is a common pet peeve, but please don’t ask for a photo if I’m eating. No one wants to see a Disney princess with a burger stuffed in her cheeks!

Do you have any horror stories or mistakes you've made that others can learn from?
Cosplaying, at least for me, is a journey paved with more mistakes than successes in the long run. I make errors ALL THE TIME when I’m constructing a costume. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake or ask for help. But don’t let the mistakes get you down! Any time you get up and out there in costume, that’s a success in itself. It takes a lot of guts to walk out in public as a fictional character.  As long as you wear what you’re wearing with love, no matter if you made everything yourself, altered existing garments, or bought your costume online, you’ll have an amazing time.

Do you have anything else you want to say, or add to this interview?
Cosplay is such a joy for me. It’s a chance for me as a very shy person to get out there and be someone else for a while, live their life, and experience a world totally different from my own with people who share the same interests as me. I might not be the best cosplayer or crafter out there, but I love what I do. And as long as you love what you’re doing too, then all the blood, sweat, tears, and emergency hot glue fixes are totally worth it!

Where can we find you on all things social?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fairwindcosplay
Tumblr: www.fairwindcosplay.tumblr.com
Instagram: @fairwindcosplay
Youtube: Fairwind Cosplay
Cosplay Amino: Fairwind Cosplay

I loved reading all her answers and I hope you did too! If you know a cosplayer who should be featured on this blog, drop their name in the comments!