When cosplayers are just starting out, shopping can be daunting. We use some pretty specific stuff and it’s never available all in one store- if it’s available in stores at all! Cosplayers also tend to latch onto brand names (Sintra, PlastiDip), scientific names (EVA, PVA glue) or even just “industry” names (pink foam, foam clay) that only other cosplayers use. It can be tricky even for store employees to understand what you’re looking for or if they have it, maybe just under a different name. Then, even if you find a store that carries it- is it high quality? Finding vendors you trust can be a challenge, too.

Because of this, people often ask me where I get this or that material. For supplies- especially some of the weirder supplies- I thought I’d compile a list of some of my favorite places to shop. I am located in the United States, so if you live elsewhere make sure to check the shipping policies.

Please note that I am not endorsed or sponsored by any of these stores. Inclusion or exclusion does not mean one store is better than another. This is honestly just where I buy my stuff!

EVA Foam

TNT Cosplay Supply (RIP) – tntcosplaysupply.com/shop/
Amazon – honestly I buy large packs of Darice-brand 2mm and 3mm craft foam sheets for details and they’re great
SKS Props HD Foam – https://www.sksprops.com/hdfoam – Available on Amazon and at Blick Art, but buying direct from the creator means he gets more of the profit.

Fabric

LA Fabric District – fashiondistrict.org/shop/fabric-and-notions-directory – I am lucky enough to live outside of LA, home to the US’s largest fabric importer district, so I get a lot of stuff here!
M&L Fabrics, Stanton CA – https://mandlfabricsdiscountstore.com/ – Closer to me than LA. Great for broadcloth, dancewear, poly silks, tulle and lining. Some linens, sometimes silk. Peep the flatfold discount bin near the front!
Fabrics-store.com – fabrics-store.com/ – Great for affordable linens for all your historical costumes, summer dresses, and… napkins, I guess
Mood Fabrics – https://www.moodfabrics.com/ – Huge selection and many fabrics have a video where they demonstrate the weight and drape.
Spoonflower – spoonflower.com/ – this invaluable vendor lets you upload custom designs to be printed onto fabric. Amazing for costumes with very specific, hard to find patterns!
Joann Fabrics (RIP) – the old mainstay. Fabric is usually very overpriced but hey, you can have it immediately!

Foam Clay

The Foamory Black Magic – https://thefoamory.com/products/moldable-foam-clay – This stuff takes a week to dry but it’s so dense and durable when it does
Michaels – Their Make Market Modeling Foam is an expensive but fair substitute. Dries faster, less durable, but usually available in store.

Leather, leather tools, rivets / grommets / buckles etc.

Tandy Leather – tandyleather.com/
Xtrims and Leather (LA Fabric District) – xtrimsandleathers.com/
Mood Fabrics – moodfabrics.com/leather

Pink Foam

Home Depot / Lowes – they now also sell 2’x2′ “project sheets” which are perfect for cosplayers and fit nicely in the trunk of my hatchback.

Plastic (Acrylic, Sintra, HDPE, LDPE, ABS, Polycarbonate)

TAP Plastics – tapplastics.com/ – they carry Sintra by its “science” name, Foamed PVC: tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic_sheets_rolls/foamed_pvc_sheets/342
Home Depot / Lowes – they carry polycarbonate sheets and some thin acrylic sheets
McMaster-Carr – https://www.mcmaster.com/plastics/shape~sheet-and-bar/

Paint

Home Depot / Lowes – especially for PlastiDip. Home Depot also carries “FlexiDip” which is okay in a pinch
Montana Gold – www.dickblick.com/products/montana-gold-acrylic-professional-spray-paints/ – I absolutely love Montana Gold spray. It’s pricey but it comes in a million colors.
Michaels / Blick Acrylics – I love Golden Fluid Acrylics (especially their metallics) as well as Liquitex Soft Body Acrylics

Wigs

Arda Wigs – arda-wigs.com/
Epic Cosplay Wigs – epiccosplay.com/
Wig Is Fashion – https://www.wigisfashion.com/ – the AI-generated wig heads are terrifying but the wigs are pretty good.

Wood

Home Depot / Lowes
Woodcraft – woodcraft.com/ – great for specialty wood and specialty hardware, like weird hinges or mechanisms

Worbla

cosplaysupplies.com – www.cosplaysupplies.com/