Rocky Mountain PBS: Eva Saunders, 68, is ready for almost anything.
If she’s tapped for a mission to the moon, she’s got a spacesuit; if a fleet of leather aliens invade, she’ll fit right in; and if she’s re-enacting stomping on Yokohama while battling an enormous moth, she’s made the giant lizard suit to fill the role.
5 comments:
I really enjoyed this article as it gave me insight into a woman who specializes in the fashion design industry and her work.What’s impress me is that despite the growing competition from mass-manufactured, prepackaged costumes sold by big retailers, Saunders remains committed to offering custom, hand-made costumes, emphasizing the value of quality and uniqueness in her work.Not only that, but their concept of environmental protection is also something that the fashion industry, which is known for its excessive waste, can learn from.With the growing issue of textile waste and the increasing costs of Halloween-related apparel, renting and reusing costumes, like those offered by Saunders, is a more sustainable alternative. Saunders' long-standing tradition of handcrafting costumes also contributes to the preservation of art and culture, ensuring that each piece carries both personal and historical significance.
Reading about businesses such as these inspires a certain want to create a business that is as long standing and customer oriented as Saunders Costumes is, as it is clear that Eva Saunders clearly cares more about delivering a quality product to her customers rather than just using the customer’s want to capitalize on her skills as someone who makes costumes. Further, I often find that businesses such as these are keystones to other local businesses or just generally to their community that earn respect and recognition for their work. It is a shame that convenience often displaces these businesses as people look moreso for quick solutions to their wants as opposed to finding a quality solution (and still at a good price for this business it seems). While their business has had to change because of these trends, it is still commendable that Saunders Costumes is still able to operate in this capacity and be a gem to those who find it.
This article highlights the necessity and wide range of uses costumes have. I am from Colorado and routinely visit the Colorado Renaissance Fair every year. When I opened this article I immediately thought of the fair and was delighted to see it show up later down in the article. The Colorado Renaissance Fair is a very immersive experience and the costumes just take it to the next level. Every single seller has full and detailed costumes along with the performers. Learning that Eva Saunders has hand created at least some of the costumes that make the event as magical as it is, warmed my heart. As the article mentioned fast fashion has fun many smaller family owned sewing businesses getting rid of the quality and hand stitched garment poses. Eva's story is fascinating and overall heartwarming to hear about.
I always love reading an article from my home state. Go Colorado! I think it is really interesting how the Saunders family has been making costumes for two generations. It is such a varied craft that both Eva and her mother seemed to have mastered. I do wish that she didn't have to close her shop though. It just goes to show how far consumerism has gone, and what we'll do to get something just a little bit faster. With 10,000 costumes, I can't imagine that somebody could go and not find something that would work for a Halloween party or contest. If I am ever in that area of Colorado I might just go see what she has in store.
Eva Saunders’ story shows artistry and resilience behind her craft of handmade costume-making. Through 60 years (though on-and-off) in this family tradition, Saunders Costumes was a beloved local business. Eva’s late mother, Evelyn, started the business with a small investment in fabric for a cub scout troop. The quantity (an estimated 10000 hand made costumes?!) and quality balance is what interests me the most in this article. I find it incredible that the business stayed true to its homegrown roots throughout such a long time, where new technologies could have provided shortcuts. This is a most welcomed break from the world of fast fashion and disposability. Despite monopolies and rising costs, Saunders continues to create costumes today alongside her husband, albeit at a slower pace. The company itself was shut down, but that doesn’t stop passion from expressing itself in her costumes. The godzilla costume shown is a fun marvel, but so are the historical costumes.
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