Cosplay interview: "Meaning is what fulfils a person"
Cosplayer Tiffie gives an insight into her passion. In this interview, she talks about material battles, growing self-confidence and foot fetishism.
I was anything but enthusiastic when my colleague Kevin asked me if I would like to support him on the topic of "Fantasy Basel". Until then, my enthusiasm for cosplay had been limited. Kevin said that he was visiting "The Swiss Comic Con" on 10 May and would be reporting on it. An interview with a cosplayer in advance would be a good idea. When another colleague raved about a Digitec employee who cosplays, I became curious.
Luckily, cosplayer Tiffie finds time for me two days later. At first glance, she seems quiet and unassuming. But something tells me that the petite brunette with Bambi eyes has a lively spirit. And that's exactly what she shows - she's not afraid to laugh heartily or emphasise the seriousness of a matter in a calm, determined voice. Tiffie's lively facial expressions and alert gaze emphasise her feelings in such a way that I always think I know where I stand with her.
Tiffie, how did you get into cosplay?
"It was the beginning of my teenage years. We were three friends who met regularly in a hobby room in the basement. We had a sofa, computer, TV and what felt like every console and game in existence.
One day we had had enough of watching anime and gaming and came up with the idea of searching for our favourite characters on Google. The first thing we googled was 'Gaara' from the series 'Naruto'. When Google showed us a picture of a real person in a Gaara outfit, we shrieked excitedly. We would have loved to have this cosplayer as a friend straight away. I immediately searched for my favourite character - 'Naruto' himself. I was blown away - we were all gobsmacked and looked at cosplay photos for hours.
At some point, we came across the homepage cosplay.com. A forum where users talked about making costumes and props. In the spirit of: 'Who knows how I can make the following...?' or 'Where can I get this material to build armour? This opened up a whole new world for me."
What happened next?
"Back then, the Claires and Metro boutiques had a fresh range of extravagant fashion pieces and accessories. We bought nets, stockings, gloves and our first wigs. Locally stocked up, the first thing we tried to do was imitate the ninja styles that go with Naruto. We made things like wild animals and also helped ourselves with aluminium foil to make matching headbands."
Back then, you sourced the materials locally - what's it like nowadays?
"Fortunately, there are now shops that specialise directly in cosplay. But a real treasure trove is the DIY store. In terms of materials, cosplayers work with joint silicone, moss gum, thermoplastic materials, Worblas, Cosplayflex, wood, cork or EVA sheets for armour. The plates are light and therefore easy to carry. However, if you are not careful, the material can quickly become wrinkled and streaked. That's why you should store the materials well and not just throw them in an Ikea bag, as I sometimes do."
Do you do everything by hand when you make a costume?
"I usually make the entire costume myself. But if you compare the prices of materials on the internet, it's often the case that a bought costume is much cheaper. Depending on the costume, you can get away with as little as 80 dollars. However, the purchased costumes are usually not very detailed, which is why they still need to be customised. Armour is very elaborate, but I always make it myself, as this ensures that everything fits - everything fits properly."
What does an outfit cost you on average?
"It varies a lot - for example, if you look at the character Jessica Rabbit with her red dress and want to make it yourself with a nice fabric, sequins, hat and wig, you'll spend around 150 francs on materials in Switzerland. However, this can vary greatly depending on where you buy your materials. Some cosplayers also buy everything abroad. However, the cost of production is then very high, considering that in addition to sewing the dress, each sequin is sewn on individually by hand. It is also difficult to find a matching pair of high heels in Switzerland that are reasonably priced.
If you want to make an outfit with a lot of armour - such as Iron Man's - you can do this with EVA plates. However, these are relatively expensive. A 50 x 50 cm plate can easily cost 20 dollars, which can only be used to make a bracer. For a complete suit of armour, you'll spend an estimated 800 francs."
How long do you spend crafting when you make an outfit from scratch?
"Depending on the situation, I have anywhere from a few days to several months. It also depends on how much time I invest each day. If you want to make an elaborate costume yourself in a week's holiday, you would have to invest eight hours a day to see the result after a week."
From growing self-confidence
Tiffie, what does cosplay actually give you - why do you do it?
"Erm... Well, it's for different reasons. Before I started, I had a lot of self-doubt. I often put my own person in the background, I avoided attention out of insecurity. Stress, a disappointing childhood sweetheart and dramatic events all took their toll on my self-confidence.
When I started cosplaying, I was able to be someone else. Someone strong. I could escape my reality. Finally, I had something to do besides gaming that helped me to get away from all the stress. Cosplay was like self-therapy for me back then, I suddenly realised that not everything that happens is bad. I gradually gained self-confidence.
The first character I cosplayed was 'Lightning' from 'Final Fantasy'. She represents a strong woman who fought her way to a higher rank in the military and then set out to save her sister and, if necessary, the world. When I slipped into this character for the first time, I felt a lot of inspiration. I also went to a convention with it and suddenly got a lot of positive attention. It was a real contrast to what had happened at school before. People came up to me full of joy and wanted to take photos with me. They praised me for my cool outfit and were thrilled to see Lightning in real life. We chatted about gaming...
I finally realised that I also have a place in this world and that life has many wonderful things to offer."
Have the reasons for cosplay changed over time?
"So I have self-confidence now, but there's still room for improvement. Nevertheless, it's just a normal hobby for me today, like fishing for someone else. I still enjoy crafting, dressing up and playing and I love bringing joy to others with my hobby. I have learnt a lot over the years and have also been able to find myself to a large extent. I now feel where my place is in the world and where I belong."
Are there actually people who do cosplay full-time - who can make a living from it?
"Yes, there are a few who have managed that. They are often invited to conventions as figureheads. They then sell prints of themselves, give signatures and may also accept commissions to build costumes for other cosplayers. They give workshops, do promotion for clients or sit on the jury of a cosplay competition."
If by chance you were lucky enough to be able to make a living from cosplay in the future. Would you want that?
"On the one hand, it would certainly be nice to turn my passion into a career. On the other hand, however, I would then have to find a new hobby that fulfils me in the same way. Gaming, making the outfits for the game characters and ultimately playing them - all hobbies are connected and fulfil me together. It's questionable whether I could enjoy all of this in my job in the same way. The effort required to constantly generate content is high and the pressure of expectations from advertisers and fans is very high. I'm torn between the two."
Fake names and slippery offers
Let's talk about your stage name. As soon as you dress up, you call yourself Tiffie...?
"Almost everyone who cosplays frequently has a stage name. In addition to recognition, it also serves as protection. You don't always want to be contacted by strangers on your private Facebook account. That's why it's good to have a separation here and have Tiffie appear separately."
So the stage name is also stalker protection?
"Yes, absolutely. You often hear about strange requests that cosplayers receive. And sooner or later you'll be hit yourself. It has happened that a foot fetishist has offered money for photos and a video in the desired outfit and matching socks. 100 francs for photos and 1,000 for the video would have been my reward.
I would find such requests scary if they came from a private social media account. In this case, I blocked the person and didn't give it a second thought. Incidentally, for reasons like this, it is also necessary to familiarise yourself with privacy settings and use them correctly."
Apart from strange suppliers, depending on the character being portrayed, cosplay also has an erotic component. How far do you go when you play such a character?
"In my opinion, skill should take centre stage. It's just the easy way to get attention and success with lots of naked skin. Sex sells, that's just the way it is. I realise that myself. For example, if I post a photo of the characters 'Widowmaker' or 'Racing Miku' - with a large neckline or shorter dress - it appeals to a lot more people and is shared more often than if I upload a selfie as 'Sombra' with a closed outfit.
Of course, there is also a market for sexy cosplay outfits. On patreon.com, for example, you can also find cosplays in which game characters suddenly appear in a bikini or even topless, their breasts covered with their hands. On the one hand, this is fan service, but on the other, it's questionable whether it's really necessary.
Personally, I don't think much of standing naked in front of the camera in a wig. I want to stay as close as possible to the original character. But if it already has sexy elements in its natural form, I'll definitely realise them. 'Boa Hancock' from 'One Piece', for example, has a huge cleavage and also likes to show it off - that's how I portrayed her character. It should fit.
Nevertheless, when I look at pictures of the well-known cosplayer Jessica Nigri, who always presents her breasts in an extreme way, I also like it. She goes the cosplay route of making everything sexy. And she does it well and still looks authentic."
Of success and the Fantasy Basel
What do you personally feel is your greatest cosplay success to date?
"First and foremost, I feel successful when I've finished a new outfit and am happy about it. The nice thing about cosplay is being around like-minded people and exchanging ideas with them. I like posing for a picture when I'm asked to do so at a convention - but I don't dream of standing on a self-turning podium on stage for hours on end and being marvelled at."
The three-day Fantasy Basel starts on Thursday - what have you got planned for it? I've heard that you're not going as a normal visitor?
"Normally I like to go to a convention in a casual outfit. But for Basel, I've booked a stand with a colleague. So you'll see me in a different outfit every day. We're sharing the costs and the stand, which is around two metres wide, so I'm only paying 150 francs. The stand costs also include a three-day pass."
How long will you have to throw on an outfit in the morning? Will you be doing this in Basel or at home?
"So far, I've always got ready at home. Which is a particular advantage with a character like Tyrande. Because I also need body painting and have to glue on ears, which might not be easy in the toilet at the convention. I will probably need 30 to 60 minutes for a disguise."
What are you most looking forward to when you think about Basel?
"The atmosphere and the people. Just having fun with the Community again and socialising. Merchandising is also popular, of course - I like buying new figures. However, I should hold back a bit because my wallet isn't always happy about my purchases."
Where can any future fans get in touch with you - how do you maintain contact?"I have a Facebook page and I'm on Instagram. However, I'm not always proactive about constantly filling my social media accounts with content like a pro. Nevertheless, the pages are of course designed so that you can see more of me if you want to." Final question: What is the meaning of life for you?"Wow... Haha... I think it's the fun. I just want to be able to live, look ahead, realise my personal goals, feel joy and stay true to myself. Meaning is what fulfils a person. And cosplay is a big part of that in my life." Thank you, Tiffie![[image:13905322 "Best thanks to the photographer too!"]]
I find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.