Samurai Costume

This is a Japanese samurai costume based on a model from the Muromachi Era (1100-1300 AD). It includes all of the major parts of an authentic samurai armor, but is made entirely from recycled materials that we found at resale shops here in Eugene, Oregon or already owned.

The "armor" is made from upholstery fabric samples cut into strips and sewn to pleather front and back pieces, and then trimmed with dyed wool yarn.

The kabuto helmet is made from a straw hat from the Goodwill that has the same strips sewn to the brim, and then the crown stiffened with fabric stiffener and spray painted black and gold. It's embellished with the traditional "kabuto" horns made from recycled cardboard spray painted gold. The hat tie and neck guard are made from bamboo beads that we had, strung on used cord and embellished with wooden beads we found at the Goodwill.

The leggings are made from soccer shin guards from the Goodwill that are covered with the upholstery fabric and embellished with the same wooden beads and yarn.

Not shown in this photo are the emblems of my son's Japanese family crest. I drew the crest on circles of recycled cardboard spray painted gold and attached them with brads to the flaps of the helmet, just as the ancient samurai did with theirs!