Costumer Magazine
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NCA Member Profile: The Costumer: Celebrating a Centennial in Schenectady, New York
It’s not every day you hear of a business celebrating its centennial—especially in the costume industry, which has seen more than its share of shops close due to increased competition from Big Box stores, pop-up shops and e-commerce sites. But in Sch Read more
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Kids in Character
On April 22, 2018, Howard Avenue in Old Town Kensington, Maine, will be transformed into a literary wonderland. That Sunday, more than 100 authors, poets, and other participants will celebrate the International Day of the Book with live music, child Read more
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Designing for People with Disabilities:
Brian Allen sees the two customers every year. They come to his shop, Costume Gallery in Lady Lake, Florida, in wheelchairs, and they want costumes just like any other customer. After all, nearly everyone enjoys dressing up occasionally, and using a Read more
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Hats off to Headwear
When you think of buying hats and headwear for your costume shop’s inventory, what first comes to mind? The customers you’re stocking those hats for are likely thinking of Santa hats and witch hats, cowboy hats and pirate hats, top hats and a bowler Read more
Product Parade
Abigail Self-Tie Frill-Waist Striped Pants
The pants are made using 100% Cotton fabric. Cotton is soft to touch, does not harm your skin in any way & can be worn outdoors without worrying about the heat. The waist is held together with a wide self-tie belt. The belt can be tied in the front t Read more
Jan 23, 2020
2:54 PM
Resident Evil™ 2 Zombie All-Pro Makeup Kit
Resident Evil™ 2 Zombie All-Pro Makeup Kit from Mehron! This deluxe kit lets the every-day gamer bring to life the terrifying Raccoon City zombies from the popular Resident Evil™ 2 video game franchise! The kit contains all of the necessary profes Read more
Jan 23, 2020
2:51 PM
Shazam from Rubies
Rubie’s officially Licensed “Shazam” Deluxe Adult Costume. Our Adult Deluxe Shazam Costume includes a Muscle Chest Jumpsuit with attached 3-D Gauntlets, 3-D Boot Tops, Belt and a Deluxe hooded Cape. Read more
Jan 23, 2020
2:49 PM
Fun World’s Home Run Horror, Voodoo King and Northern Realm Warrior
The latest selection from Fun World includes the CM17132 Home Run Horror with shirt and pants printed with team baseball colors and logo, hat with sculpted ball, and printed socks. The CM11133 Voodoo King includes a shirt with attached vest and skull Read more
Jan 9, 2020
9:42 AM
elope, Inc.’s Hogwarts Robes.
Capture the magic of an older Hogwarts™ with this upscale line of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald™ 1920's Hogwarts Robes by elope. Inspired by the film, this robe embraces vintage styling to transport fans into the past of the famous Wiza Read more
Jan 9, 2020
9:33 AM
General Label Custom Woven Labels
Our custom woven labels are available in sew-in, stick-on or iron-on applications. Damask weaving produces a high-quality label that enhances any garment. Hi-definition weaving is used when designs having very small details need to be woven. Read more
Dec 18, 2019
10:52 AM
Ellie Shoes’ “Bubbles.”
The 254-Bubbles is a women’s shoe with a 2 ½-inch heel. It’s a versatile item that’s great for a scary clown or Harlequin costume! Read more
Dec 18, 2019
10:50 AM
Graftobian's Top-Selling Snap-Case Palette Boxes
The Master ProPaint™ Assortment #1 Palette Box is a good start to your Graftobian ProPaint™ collection. ProPaint™ delivers vivid color results with exceptional opacity. Activates easily with water. The Graftobian Luster™ Collection Palette Box holds Read more
Dec 18, 2019
10:49 AM
Features
“Creative Crew” Brings New Life to a San Francisco Costume Shop
he 2020 Halloween & Party Expo in New Orleans offered the opportunity to meet many NCA members—Austin Efurd, owner of Looks Costuming on Haight, was one of them. The story he shared about taking ownership of Costuming on Haight, a shop that had been Read more
Feb 6, 2020
11:11 AM
Plus-Size Costumes Can Equal Plus-Size Profits
The medical community has been lamenting the growing waistlines of Americans for years now, but some members of the costume community have another view of that situation. After all, if your costume business successfully sells plus-size costumes, larg Read more
Jan 23, 2020
1:42 PM
NCA Executive Director: HPE Was a Learning Experience
I've been tangentially involved in the costume industry for about the past five years, as publisher of Costumer, NCA's member publication. And Kathy Furore, my wife, has been equally involved as editor of Costumer. But now that we are also managing t Read more
Jan 23, 2020
1:25 PM
Gallery: 2020 Halloween & Party Show
We visited some NCA Vendor Members who exhibited at the Halloween & Party Expo in New Orleans on January 17, 2020. Enjoy the gallery! Read more
Jan 18, 2020
11:19 AM
Big Changes at NCA
With the new decade comes a batch of changes at NCA! First, the management team has changed. Ed Avis and Kathy Furore, the couple who have managed The Costumer magazine for the past five years, are now the new association managers. They have been man Read more
Dec 17, 2019
4:01 PM
My Favorite Costume: Gene Flaharty, Mehron, Inc.
Gene Flaharty might not be a costume shop owner or employee—but he certainly knows a lot about costuming! As the makeup artist/product expert/sales manager for Mehron Inc., Flaharty has been part of the costume/theater scene for decades. And in his m Read more
Jan 9, 2020
9:27 AM
Masks—Unmasked!
Another Halloween is in the books and the Christmas season is coming to an end. What are some ways to march into the new year armed with ideas to perk up sales? Don’t overlook masks! Read more
Dec 18, 2019
10:47 AM
Historical Costuming
It seems like every historical costumer’s journey to a closet full of pretty things to wear always includes a trip…or two…or three… to the local fabric store. We inevitably find ourselves on the quick run to grab thread, hook & eyes or even ribbon. Read more
Dec 11, 2019
4:09 PM
The Force of Facebook
You probably have a Facebook page for your costume shop, and you may even keep it regularly updated with fresh posts and special offers. But are you taking full advantage of it? Here are seven tips from three Facebook experts on how to make sure you’ Read more
Dec 11, 2019
4:05 PM
My Favorite Costume: Larry Dockter, Broadway Costumes
It isn’t that common these days to find a costume shop that’s been around for more than half a century—especially one that’s remained in the same family decades and continues to thrive. Broadway Costumes & Theatrical Supply in Sacramento, California, Read more
Dec 18, 2019
11:13 AM
Costuming News
2020 NCA Spring Fling Scheduled for May
An NCA tradition lives on! The 2020 Spring Fling, an informal gathering of costumers and enthusiasts, is scheduled for May 14-17 in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Read more
Feb 6, 2020
11:57 AM
NCA Webinar: Making Masks!
The first of four 2020 NCA members-only webinars has been scheduled for April 7 at 2 p.m. Central time. This webinar, led by NCA past president Linda Adams Foat, will show you step-by-step how to create beautiful masks that your customers will adore! Read more
Feb 6, 2020
12:05 PM
"High Maintenance" Costume Designer is Authentic NY
If Cristina Spiridakis is doing her job right, you wouldn’t know she had a job at all. That is to say, her work as the costume designer on HBO’s “High Maintenance” is as authentically New York as a morning commute on a packed F train or dollar dumpli Read more
Feb 6, 2020
11:31 AM
Mandalorian Inspires Costume Makers
Mandalorian characters have been around since the Star Wars movie franchise began. The Mandalorian on Disney+ has inspired a new generation of make believe mercenaries. Blue Moon Clan, the Kentucky Chapter of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club is hos Read more
Feb 6, 2020
11:28 AM
Clemson Mascot Looks Ratty; Fundraiser Tries to Help
Social media is going crazy over an unexpected star of the Clemson vs. LSU championship game Monday night, the Clemson Tiger. Some people feel the mascot badly needs a makeover, and one LSU fan even launched an online fundraiser as a prank. Read more
Feb 6, 2020
11:21 AM
Jacksonville Party/Costume Business Closing
At its height, The Party Shop employed more than 100 people and its products were staples at birthday parties and Halloween bashes across Jacksonville. But the shift to online sales, social media and a helium shortage are among the reasons owner Amal Read more
Feb 6, 2020
11:16 AM
NCA Website Now Focused on Industry News
Hopefully you have noticed that the NCA website looks quite different from what it was before. That's because now the website focuses on news and feature articles about the costuming industry. Read more
Jan 23, 2020
2:05 PM
Meet the Student Costume Designers at UNC
Sometimes passion is ingrained in our subconscious when we are young and other times it takes the shape of an opportunity arbitrarily stumbled upon later in life. For a few students at UNC, this passion is costume design, but their paths to finding t Read more
Jan 23, 2020
2:42 PM
