I love being part of a community where passionate makers create for the community, by the community. They pour hours into their own costumes, troop regularly, and go beyond just selling products. That dynamic—even between makers offering similar items—is what helps us grow.
What gets me is when outsiders with zero investment in the clubs or the fandom exploit troopers for profit. That’s the opposite of who we are. We work hard for our money, and we deserve respect from who we buy from.
For 6–7 years, a seller from Pakistan has been ripping off prop makers’ patterns and research to sell soft goods, boots, and gloves on Etsy. Buyers are often disappointed. And every time they’re called out, they just open a new shop with the same photos and the same product, lying about being in the UK or US. If you were legit, you wouldn’t need to keep starting over with a new name. It’s a massive red flag
