# Cardboard Cosplayers Alexander Lam Makes a One-of-a-Kind Shogun Vader Costume By Annie Ho | Published 2010-08-15 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shogun-vader-costume References: [technabob](http://technabob.com/blog/2010/08/12/shogun-vader-cosplay/) & [blogs.laweekly](http://blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/nerdy-in-la/shogun-vader-the-ultimate-card/) Alexander Lam successfully fooled me into believing that the 'Shogun Vader Costume' was made with real [samurai armor](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gshock-mrg). Believe it or not, the costume is made of [cardboard](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-guitar-1) dipped in jet-black dye and then covered in shiny black poster board. The trim that you see on the armor is a series of oversized shoelaces. The 'Shogun Vader Costume' is then held together with double-sided tape. Beneath all that homemade armor, Lam is wearing a diving suit. After all, what can be better than a [Darth Vader](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/star-wars-tamagotchi) mashup with a samurai? ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.9/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 14% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: South America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Cardboard-fashion:** Opportunities for using cardboard to create unique fashion pieces. - **Low-cost Costumes:** Creating costumes using low-cost materials to disrupt the expensive costume industry. - **DIY Cosplay:** DIY cosplay trends are on the rise due to low barriers to entry. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fashion:** Using new materials and different design processes to create unique pieces. - **Entertainment:** Creating low-cost costumes for film and theatre productions. - **Arts and Crafts:** The increase in popularity of DIY cosplay creates opportunities for businesses related to crafts, such as materials and tools suppliers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Highly Detailed Sci-Fi Costumes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stormtrooper-kit.md) - [Skateable Cardboard Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-chaos.md) - [Sci-Fi-Inspired Classical Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sen-donnan.md) - [Sci-Fi Franchise-Inspired Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/star-wars-collection-2.md) - [Dark Sci-Fi Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darc-sport.md) - [Cardboard Airplane Builds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-airplane.md) - [Motion-Activated Sci-Fi Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hasbro-2.md) - [Sci-Fi-Themed Replica Helmets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clone-trooper-phase-ii.md) - [Plastic Sci-Fi Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artfx-boba-fett.md)