Creative, costly, cosplay on display at GalaxyCon Raleigh as industry continues to grow

Thousands of cosplayers descended on Raleigh this weekend for GalaxyCon, the annual convention celebrating nerd and pop culture, anime fandom and cosplaying.

Mayor Mary Ann-Baldwin said the sheer number of people in costume walking around Raleigh made her want to make GalaxyCon a cornerstone of Raleigh.

“I remember the first time I saw everybody out here and having fun,” she said. “It is one of the biggest conferences we do [each] year because it’s intergenerational – young, old, everybody having a good time.”

People from across the state and the country came to the Raleigh Convention Center during its four-day run.

“I came down here to hang out with my friends, so I’m actually really excited,” said Sage Friar, who came from Michigan.

Several professional cosplayers were at the convention showing off their creations, including Silverheart, one of GalaxyCon’s featured cosplayers who finished one outfit just days before the convention.

“I’ve always been a nerd. I’ve always loved everything anime,” she said. “I discovered cosplay in 2017 when I went to my first convention, and then in 2018, I met my first professional cosplayer. That’s how I got into armor-making and prop-making, and then I started doing it professionally.”

Cosplaying is as simple as it sounds: Dress up as your favorite character and have a good time doing it.

“I tell people, unless you’re in a contest, you do not need to be judging your cosplay, it is awesome as is,” she said. “Cosplay is all about costume play, feeling good and having fun.”

While it can be easy for some, making everything can be time-consuming.

“One cosplay I just made cost me about $300 to make, and I made that in about a month,” Silverheart said. “It usually takes me three to six months.”

Silverheart said between making her outfits and attending conventions she usually spends about “$1,000 or more” each year on cosplaying.

Some professional cosplayers spend much more. Several factors contributing to the costs are materials for the costumes, travel expenses for out-of-town conventions, admission fees and outsourcing the building of costumes and props.

“I single-handedly caused a ribbon shortage in my town,” one cosplayer said during GalaxyCon’s Cosplay Runway competition Friday night.

The industry, however, is growing. According to Allied Market Research, the cosplay industry in 2020 was valued at more than $4.6 billion. By 2030, they expect it to be a $23 billion industry.

The industry suffered a set back during the COVID-19 pandemic due to most conventions, including GalaxyCon, going to a virtual format. Allied Market Research said the growth is expected at a “rapid pace” in the post-pandemic period.

While it can be an expensive and potentially lucrative hobby, Silverheart says her favorite thing about cosplays is that anyone can do it and use their creativity.

“I love seeing a character that I love … I love taking that and making that my own,” she said. “For me, I don’t only go for 100% screen accuracy; I go for having fun and being creative with the character.”

GalaxyCon celebrates cosplayers of all ages, both new cosplayers and experienced ones, and has various cosplay contests allowing attendees to showcase their hard work. Silverheart already tabbed her favorite cosplay of the day on Saturday.

“I did see someone cosplaying Wolverine as his LEGO counterpart … That was pretty awesome,” she said. “I’ve also seen a lot of Princess Tiana, and I love Princess Tiana.”

For Kal, a cosplayer and prop maker known as AssortedCreates on Instagram who dressed up for the convention as Gambit from X-Men ‘97, the people at conventions make the costumes worth it.

“Just meeting people and getting to do what I love to do, which is getting to build and making stuff for a reason,” he said.

With GalaxyCon extending its partnership with the City of Raleigh through 2031, many people will have the opportunity to continue cosplaying and showcasing their skills at the convention center.