When I first started Darth Cleavage, the standard for costuming was largely resin cast and vacuum formed parts. The process of sculpting, molding, and casting or forming takes a lot of time and tends to be expensive so it somewhat limited the options. However, after a bit of trimming and sanding you had a paintable item. With 3D printing, the modelling still takes a substantial amount of time, but the production is faster, items are scalable, and this has allowed for a wider variety of options. However, if you want an item with the smoothness of something cast or formed,...

While I certainly want to keep doing these builds, I also like to enable people to prep and paint themselves. To that end, here's a peek into what it takes to make a Mando kit.     I currently source all of my armor from the Mandalorian Arsenal. Why? Simply because David has amazing customer service, a variety of pieces that let you customize your kit, and solid materials with an excellent wear life. If you are up to giving this a try yourself, head directly over there and he will take care of you.   The picture to the...

I had a client come to me with a few reference images, a color scheme, and free rein with the rest of the design. In other words, AWESOME! I'm finally getting this started and promised him I'd provide images and updates so that he could chronicle the project from start to finish. If I get the chance, I'll add some video too. Helmet This was one part of the build that was left totally up to me. I think it went something along the lines of, "just make sure it looks Star Warsy".  I started with the idea of doing...

I've maintained a dedicated site for my costuming endeavors for a few years now, but with the rapid growth of the industry and my little shop, I felt that it was time to start moving towards a dedicated e-commerce platform. Not only does this allow me greater flexibility with regards to the products I can offer, but it also provides greater security with the addition of SSL certification and dedicated malware protection. It's a work in progress so please bear with me! Jen Darth Cleavage