Skip to main content

Becoming a Mercreature: Design Considerations for Water Safe Costumes

The big challenge of the mercreature costume design is making it appropriate to swim in. So what we make it out of and how things are adhered together are going to matter! The three principles to keep in mind are: 
  • Keep it Light-weight
  • Keep it Clean
  • Keep it Together
Adding the water-proofing element will limit the materials you can use safely in the water without causing harm to the swimmer and the environment! 
 

Why use Water-Safe Materials?

The big reason of course is personal safety of the wearer. Most modern swimwear is made out of synthetic fabric which not only stretches, but it doesn't absorb much water and become heavy. (Obviously, swimsuits get wet and absorb water but it doesn't get heavy.) The extra weight will affect buoyancy and make it more difficult to swim. 

Natural Fibers and Materials on the other hand become heavier when submerged in the water. They hold onto liquid when absorbed. There's also the unfortunate effect of the fabric shrinking or becoming otherwise damaged when drying out. 

Other reasons to use water safe materials affects the integrity of the materials. Water can cause mild damage such as fading or "water-spots" or in some cases dissolve material. Well, maybe "wash away" is more accurate. In some cases things like corrosion or rusting will take more time. 

Finally, for health reasons. Especially if you swim in a natural swimming location like a beach, river or something, the costume absorbs more than water! Bacteria, mold, salt, and other little friends can hide in the nooks and crannies of the costume. Some materials are easier to keep clean than others. 
But even pools can have some unwelcomed affects because of chemicals in the water. It's likely there's bacteria and other buddies too.

Fabrics



So for fabric choices a good starting point is using similar material used in swimwear. 
Commonly this will be some kind of spandex/lycra/rayon nylon or something rubberized like neoprene/Scuba fabric. Other search terms to look at are "power mesh", netting, sportwear/performance wear. They even make a swim-safe stretch velvet which I find most intriguing. 

Not all parts of the costume need to have form fitted fabric. Tulle and other types of netting or silks can go in the water and not cause any harm to the swimmer. 

Paint and Dyes

Another concern with putting fabrics in the water is dye. If the dye has not set, it can wash out completely or partially. This leaves you with a faded color on your fabric and possibly some nasty chemicals in the water. (Please be responsible!) Usually, I find that commercial fabrics keep their color and won't leak into the streams. If you do end up doing some color changes, it will be important to "waterproof" the fabric and make sure the dye has properly set. 

Now, the dyes used for synthetic fabrics do tend to be very strong because most synthetic fibers are water-resistant. Paints and Inks can work but there are extra steps to make sure it's set in the fibers. Stretch fabrics are hard to paint on but it can be done even with acrylic paints. 

You might even look into waterproofing the fabric after painting to really seal things in or utilizing Permaset Aqua which works with spandex and waterproof. 

Adhesives

Many types of adhesives are water-based, which won't hold up for long in aquatic environments. And the adhesion on tape really won't last long! So if necessary, you'll need to use strong adhesives. 
Duct tape and similar type of tapes will hold in the water. Superglue, contact cement, Pros-aide, Spirit Gum, Silicone, or other types of "cured" glues will hold. (I think there's an infamous As-Seen-On-TV product that you can make a boat out of!) 
Hot Glue sticks are a mixed bag because it's more affected by heat and most beaches are quite warm. The water may be cold but the sands aren't necessarily. It also depends if you get the high temp or low temp glue sticks. 

Other methods of connecting involved in sewing will work. Zippers, buttons, snaps, hook and eyes, magnets and clips will not have their hold affected. (Although, metal will rust). Velcro does tend to absorb water so it's hold can get compromised. 

Accessory Materials


For making anything else, its water absorbency will be what to consider most. 
Leather, soft wood, foam are just well...sponges. They fill and hold water which means they'll sink or warp or grow a colony of delicious bacteria. 

EVA foam is a very common accessory material and it is waterproof! It's still a slightly porous material, but it's what's used to make kickboards so it works in the water. EVA can be coated in any number of sealants or thermoplastic.

You may need to look into resin, silicone, latex, or plastic to use as material. Metal and jewelry can corrode over time so it is possible to use these as materials, but you do have to make sure you clean them well. 

Wigs and Makeup

Finally, let's talk about makeup and hair. 

So many cosplay wigs are made from synthetic fibers which means they don't absorb water when submerged. Keeping the wig on will be a challenge as well as styling. Again, real glue will hold things in place, hairspray won't. Also, I'm not sure if hair-spray is really good for the environment. If you dye the wig, make sure it's set!  

Now, they DO make waterproof makeup!! It's possible! You have to search for it specifically. This is the same for body paints too. The downside to these is the clean up. There's some pretty strong chemicals to make the pigment stay! You could also find some staining on your skin. So, you'd need the appropriate cleanser. 

I would not recommend using latex body paint because it blocks up everything which can lead to overheating. 

Other Thoughts

I hope I don't have to mention but I will, but electricity and water don't mix. Well, they do but it's not necessarily healthy for a living creature. But if you want to make something glow or light up there are ways. It has to be in a water-proof containment. Submersible tea lights, aquarium LEDs and other solutions are available. But please, just don't have live wires on you in the water!

Also it's not advised to wear contact lenses under water. It can cause all kinds of unfun infections as well as irritation. So, any eye color changes should be done in post with a photo editor. 

I'm sure I might be forgetting something obvious so I say that when planning, make it a point to research if there's a way to waterproof your material or find an alternative!

Have respect for the water! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hakama Series - Hibakama (Scarlet Hakama)

The bright red hakama with a white kimono is a common sight in both anime and video game characters. Shrine maidens or Miko also wear this combination of colors when they work at Shinto shrines. Honestly, there is a LOT of history and cultural significance wrapped up in this one.  Anime/Games: Inuyasha, Genshin Impact, Sailor Moon,  So let's talk Design. Design Considerations Cultural Significance This is one I'd pay attention to if I was creating a character of my own. I assume that already created characters have had this research done and have taken their artistic license.  Some of the research taught me a few things: The color is technically scarlet or vermillion, not "red". 🤷 Miko are not part of the Shinto clergy. Sometimes they are just seasonal workers.  Generally, Miko are young women in their teens or early 20s. After a certain age, they wear different colors.  This was based on Heian nobility colors and fashions.  Color Like I said earlier, the ...

Hakama Series - Andon Bakama (Skirt Style)

Andon Bakama were hakama typically worn by women in an academic setting during the 1900s or so. Modern times, they are usually worn for formal occasions such as graduation. It is also the style that just looks nice with a kimono especially for those of us with Western hips the size of Texas.  See examples in Anime/Games: Here Comes Miss Modern, Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Sakura Wars.  So let's get into how to make one. Tutorial style! Design Elements These are things to consider before you start.  by Chihirohowe Skirt Length Traditionally this is worn just below the ankle if you are wearing flat sandals, geta, or zori. It is worn above the ankle for sneakers, boots, and heels. You can adjust how high on your waist you wear it if you are going to switch between the two.  Colors Normally, these are a solid color, sometimes with embroidered floral patterns near the bottom. Red/Scarlet is uncommon outside of Miko. Patterned fabric is appropriate for this.  Side ...

Hakama Series - Split Leg Hakama

This is the classic style that you likely think of when you hear the word "Hakama". Very wide-legged pleated trousers worn by swordsmen and warriors. Admittedly these are "modern" hakama. There are variations based on historical time period and social status. But these should suit most cases.  So, lets go over how to make them!  You will see examples of this in many games and Anime but some faves of mine include: Rurouni Kenshin, Bleach, Demon Slayer, XXXholic, Hell's Paradise and Genshin Impact.  UPDATE 4/10/2024: I've redone all my instructions. Now that I've actually made a pair of hakama and found some more resources, I felt this needed updating.  From Chihirohowe's Guide Design Elements Color For modern or fantasy character design, no limits to color! You can also use print fabric and add designs! Historically, these would be a solid color and often have a neutral color scheme (white, grey, black, brown). More colorful hakama were usually worn ...