STORE-BOUGHT COSTUMES
By: Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist
An iconic part of Halloween is the costumes people wear. Monsters, fictional characters or professions that children may be interested in are common options found in stores.
Many people buy their Halloween costumes. In fact, it has become a lucrative business, with Americans spending $4.1 billion on costumes in 2023 alone, according to Capital One Shopping.
Making a costume from scratch is also an option and one that allows for much more creativity. Not every option can be bought, and the quality may be scary for the purchasable options.
There is an important issue with making a costume, however, and that is the time required to do so. Work and other life responsibilities might prevent a person from having the time to make their own costume, even if they wanted to, and families that want multiple costumes also require more time to make them.
Depending on what they want their costume to look like, a person might also need certain skills, such as sewing or paper mache. Not everyone has these skills, and learning them will take even more time.
In contrast, buying a costume from a store saves a lot of time, especially if bought online. Moreover, a costume can be bought on short notice, unlike a homemade costume.
If the costume a person wants is available through a store, there isn’t much reason to make one from scratch outside of a desire for higher quality or greater customization. For those without the desire or passion to make a costume themselves, shopping is easier.
Even store-bought costumes can still be customized. Some paint or additional accessories can spice them up.
What’s more, store-bought costumes can be reused if they are still in good condition and fit the person using them. A store-bought costume may be more sturdy than a homemade costume and save time and energy the following spooky season.
After all, Halloween is only one day of the year. There’s no shame in picking the same costume two years in a row.
HOMEMADE COSTUMES
By: Lalita Rai, Opinion Columnist
On the eve of Halloween, a little boy knocked on the door: “Trick-or-treat!” When I opened the door and complimented his costume, he smiled and said it was made by his grandma. I said his grandma must love him a lot, and he replied happily that yes she does, and he also loves her very much with pride. I smiled back.
That little boy seemed to understand the value of handmade costumes, likely witnessing the effort and time his grandmother invested in making them. He may have also shared some meaningful, joyful moments with his grandparents while helping with the process.
Nobody prepares costumes for just anybody. Whenever a costume is homemade, it’s prepared with love and care for a loved one. Preparing something by yourself for someone is a way of showing your love and care, and a blessing for the people you love the most.
If parents and children create Halloween costumes together, it will be fun. It will create harmony among family members and may be good for child growth. Children can feel proud when they wear something they helped make.
Preparing Halloween costumes by yourself takes creativity. Handmade costumes allow for personalization. The creator can reflect on their thoughts, imagination, personal interest or culture. The selection of colors, fabrics, design patterns and embroidery is entirely up to the creator, varying from person to person, and that’s what makes homemade costumes unique.
By this, no one else will have the same costume.
When people prepare costumes at home they need creative skills like sewing, designing and coloring. Children get a chance to explore their interests and develop problem-solving abilities like figuring out how to bring ideas to life.
And hand-making costumes is often less expensive.
When people prepare costumes at home, they can reuse old clothes and accessories, meaning they don’t need to spend extra money to buy ready-made clothes. Reusing old clothes and accessories also creates a positive impact on the environment.
Many ready-made Halloween costumes are made from petroleum-based plastics that contribute to environmental harm through greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion and the release of microplastics, threatening wildlife and the food chain, according to Commons Earth.
Another benefit is that while preparing costumes, parents may share stories about their cultural festivals, rituals and traditional clothing. They might even use specific colors and fabrics related to their culture. They may prepare costumes of mythical figures from their folklore or historical figures.
Many cultures have their own crafting skills like embroidery or weaving. Children can learn about their culture, customs and traditions from these actions. So, handmade costumes can represent cultural significance which adds deeper meaning to the celebration, connecting old traditions to new generations.
This is how Halloween can become a way to express the user’s identity.
Additionally, handmade costumes are comparatively well-fitted for children and more durable because the creator can customize the size and material quality.
Handmade Halloween costumes offer greater creativity, personalization, opportunities for family bonding, learning about family tradition and culture and even environmental benefits. Try making your costume from home – and costumes for loved ones – this Halloween!
