Custom Costumes for Any Universe: Cosmosii’s Stellar New Service

Text by The Cosmosii Team

Images by Kejoko Photography, Solita D Photo and 729Isaac

The Cosplay Journal is excited to share Cosmosii’s Press Release.

The world we live in is increasingly tailor-made, and no one knows that better than the team at Cosmosii.

Cosmosii (www.cosmosii.com) simplifies the world of commissioning cosplays. Gone are the days of scouring Facebook groups for whoever replies, and sending cold Instagram DMs that are lost in the “hidden requests” folder. No longer will makers have to create their own complicated spreadsheets just to stay on top of projects. The commission process should be seamless, and Cosmosii is here to iron out all the wrinkles.

The practice of commissioning, or soliciting an artist for one-of-a-kind creation, dates back as far as the Roman Empire. In the modern cosplay world, commissioning centers around supporting small artists, achieving specific artistic visions, and getting garments made to perfectly fit the wearer’s size and shape. It’s not as simple as “add to cart”: commissioning requires both the buyer and the maker to collaborate in an extensive design process, but the results are often out of this world.

Dishycrafts (Maker), Kejoko Photography (photo)

Cosmosii connects cosplayers with crafters who can make them anything from the princess dress of their dreams to a precision prop replica, turning fantasy into reality.

“I really wanted to support small artists within the community by commissioning beautiful custom cosplays,” says Cosmosii co-founder and CEO Emma Kaye. “I found that the process was scattered across social media and existing websites focused on selling premade stock items. Makers were also frustrated by the current process: they wanted easier ways to find customers and run their business.”

Emma Kaye (model), Dark Iron Cosplay (Maker), 729Isaac (photo)

That’s when Emma got the original idea for Cosmosii: a platform that connects cosplayers with commissioners (called “Makers'' on the site). “I have years of experience helping Fortune 500 companies optimize their workflows and get the best out of their people – why not share those skills with a community I love? Developing something that supports these amazing creators felt like the perfect way to give back and empower other cosplayers.”

Emma started exploring the concept of a commission-centric platform through her MBA program at MIT, and to date has spent hundreds of hours interviewing cosplayers and crafters alike. The excitement from the community only encouraged her further as the team began to grow. 

Just up the road at Harvard, Emma found Cassie Lowell (@StarsOfCassiopeia), who became Cosmosii’s co-founder and Head of Maker Strategy. “Cass was one of my first potential user interviews. At some point she just started doing work, and when I realized she loved this idea as much as I did, we joined forces.” Cassie’s fifteen years of crafting experience and subsequent awards, plus her professional background in engineering design, project management, and database maintenance, made her a natural fit. 

Through the entrepreneurial ecosystem at MIT, the pair continually worked on developing Cosmosii’s site. The two won awards like the MIT Creative Arts Competition for their progress, and were accepted into prestigious business accelerator programs like Delta V and Envision to further elevate Cosmosii’s capabilities. 

Cassie/StarsOfCassiopeia (Maker/model), Solita D Photo (photo)

The Cosmosii pilot platform launched in Fall 2021, and the start of the Version 2.0 site rollout went live in September 2022. Makers can already upload their portfolios to show off their best work, message potential clients directly after seeing their initial inquiries (called “Cosplans”), and make secure payments all in one place. Additional features to help Makers with project management are currently in the works.  

“We are designing with evolution in mind,” says Cassie. “We see a world where individuals can commission a custom good in a way that is thoughtful to the Makers designing and producing them, and simplify the process for both parties every step of the way.” 

In that vein, Cosmosii additionally has options for commissioning pieces of cosplay, not just full ensembles. Whether you need a wig, a prop, or accessory to augment your work, you can use the built in filters on the site’s Find Makers page to find folks who specialize in exactly what you need. If all you need is a laser cut piece, a 3D printed file, or someone with an embroidery machine to execute your own designs, Cosmosii’s Makers can help with that too.

“It’s been wonderful to build alongside a community that’s inspired our own personal journeys,” said Cassie. “Between the two of us, and the passion of our Makers, there’s nothing we can’t create.”

Cosmosii (www.cosmosii.com) provides digital tools to enable costume creators to transform their creative passions into a thriving business, from connecting Makers with clients to project management. 

Want to create something amazing with us? Connect about becoming a Maker, convention appearances, or getting involved by emailing the Cofounders at Mission.control@cosmosii.com!

Filmed & Edited by 4:3 Collective, featuring Makers Carley Winn & OutLaw2LK