/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

This started long ago, long before you were born 16 years ago OP, back when anime was still an underground thing in the US and the internet didn't exist.

Without the internet people couldn't just buy shit online or hire commissioners easily, and they had to resort to showing their love for an obscure franchise by actually making a costume of a character based off that franchise.

Making your own cosplay started because there was no real easy way back in the day to buy costumes en masse.

Also, if you make your own costume you are obviously doing a lot more work than somebody who just buys a costume so people are going to respect you more.

"I'm a baker."
"Oh cool, did you make that cake?"
"No, I hired somebody to make that cake for me, but I frosted it and displayed it, so I am still totally a baker."