ABSTRACT
Cosplay is a rich and visible part of global fan culture. Fans dress up as existing fictional characters in costumes that they often create themselves. To craft their costumes, fans buy and create many items, from wigs and fabrics to make-up. A growing movement in fandom is concerned with making sustainable, green, and durable consumer choices with regards to costuming, also called “ecocosplay.” Through a virtual ethnography on Instagram, this study provides insights on this growing trend of sustainability, upcycling, and recycling in fan culture. Participants, for instance, make sustainable design choices by reusing particular materials, using sustainable materials, and thrifting parts of their outfits. As this case study shows, sustainability is of growing importance in fan and consumer culture.
