HELL GIRL-Making of Part 1; references and SWOT

Hell Girl Season 1

AI Enma is FINALLY done! So here's the post mortem in multiple sections to share with my  friends. Like with all costumes for competition I always think about my SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). For more information on doing a SWOT yourself check it out here or wait for one of my posts later.

CHARACTER: Ai Enma

SHOW: HellGirl Season 1
TIME TO COMPLETE: About 14 months working three or four nights a week on it. Every week.

• Strengths:knowledge of the show, I had made one kimono and juban before as practice for making this costume a year and a half ago. I also have love of the subject matter and the ability to learn very quickly. This also wasn't my first costume or competition.
• Weaknesses: I had never made a furisode and had limited experience in kitsuke, I'd never done applique outside of the occasional quilt. It's not like there's directions in english for all the kitsuke parts making. I also just generally suck at things that are delicate and well done. I'd never done a lined garment without screwing it up and lastly...omg so many flowers. Also it's an obscure show so nobody would know what I was wearing.
• Opportunities: Very few people do this costume and I have yet to see anybody online who really does it realistically or well [I've seen screen printed costumes on shiny satin...not authentic], I'd probably be the only person at a large con wearing it! Because it's obscure the judges probably haven't seen a ton of them either so less competition. I wanted to learn kimono and kitsuke and this gave me an excuse. I have the right size and body type too for this character.
• Threats: Because the show is obscure nobody would know what I was wearing. The costume is very complicated with how many flowers she has. Also because truly authentic kitsuke and kimono aren't competing often, it was likely that the judges wouldn't care about all the little details I would be doing such as making my own obi, obijime, obiage, juban, himo, and doing an authentic musubi knot.

NEXT UP: All them flowers!