KUCHING: What started as a part-time venture in 2022 has allowed student Dee Kuruto Shin, 25, to turn his interest in cosplay into a home-based business making cosplay props.
Dee said he began selling cosplay props after a friend suggested the idea, following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
“I do this part-time because I am still a student. After that, I started getting customers, but I cannot take too many orders because most of the events are held around the same time,” he said.
He said the production time depended on the size and type of the prop, with items such as swords taking about one to two weeks to complete.
Using soft EVA foam as his main material, Dee said his handmade props are priced from about RM100 for smaller items to around RM400 for larger ones.
He makes the props from home and mainly receives orders through Instagram.
“Everything is handmade by me. I can earn almost RM2,000 a month, although that is before deducting all the costs,” he said.
However, Dee said finding materials locally was among the challenges he faced, as he often had to research where to obtain them instead of ordering online, particularly when working on urgent commissions.
He also faced space limitations as he did not have a dedicated studio or workshop, making it challenging to work on props of different sizes.
Another consideration was whether certain props could be brought to events, particularly replicas resembling firearms.
“Some events, especially in Malaysia, do not allow firearm props or replicas as they can be risky at certain events, especially public events, and they are not allowed according to Malaysian law,” he said.
Balancing his prop-making commissions with his studies also required careful planning, he said.
Dee said he limited the number of commission slots available to avoid putting too much pressure on himself and discussed deadlines with customers based on when they needed the props for events.
“I only do the props when I have free time. If it is a small or medium-sized prop, whether it is for a customer or myself, I can work on it during my free time,” he said.
He said the experience had also taught him the importance of patience and managing his time.
“Not everything we can do all at once. Some things require time and patience in order for them to be done,” he said.
Dee also viewed the Borneo-Japan NewTrends Trade Expo 2026 as a valuable opportunity to gain exposure and introduce his work to a wider audience.
He said Japanese culture and cosplay were often promoted through social media, making physical events such as the expo an important platform for enthusiasts and creators.
“This event is really good exposure, but the only problem, I think, is the venue space. Most Japanese culture-related exposure is usually through social media, but this is really good exposure,” he said.
Dee expressed hope that he would be invited to similar events in the future as he enjoys sharing his work and interests with others.
