[Youmu Konpaku cosplay] Touhou Project Costume Exhibition Journey: A Fan-Design Log from Visitor to Exhibitor

Participating in Touhou Reitaisai for the first time as an independent circle, I finally got to exhibit my custom fan-designed outfit at the Touhou Chinese Costume Exhibition as wished. As a creator of handmade garments and photo materials, the validation and warmth I received over these past few days far exceeded my expectations.

Designing this Youmu Konpaku cosplay secondary setting outfit, I focused heavily on deconstructing Japanese silhouettes and integrating Western lace elements. After multiple trips to the fabric market, I selected a deep green fabric featuring vintage hexagonal jacquard motifs, paired with crisp white cotton and delicate sheer lace. To preserve the flowing elegance of the furisode sleeves, I added specialized pleating at the upper arms and hand-placed white vine embroidery along the skirt hemline. The overall tailoring honors the spirit of Touhou Project characters while incorporating lightweight designs tailored for daily display.

Surprisingly, the most popular item at the booth was my handmade fabric swatch cards. Since convention attendees cannot touch the displayed clothing directly, photos often fail to convey the true texture and weight of the fabrics. This idea actually stemmed from my personal habit of collecting fabric samples when browsing textile markets. People commented that this detail showed incredible thoughtfulness, allowing them to intuitively feel the garment's quality, which honored me deeply. My new fan book also completely sold out during the event. What touched me even more was how meticulously everyone examined the exhibit; subtle edge details I thought only I would notice—like the piping inside the sleeve lining and the hidden side pocket along the skirt—were precisely spotted and praised by fellow fans.

Looking back at the first Touhou Costume Exhibition last year, I was merely a visitor learning from others. At the time, I never imagined that this year I would be personally invited by the organizer to exhibit. In today's sometimes exclusionary fan creation atmosphere, receiving such genuine recognition and heartfelt praise fills me with immense motivation. Transforming from someone who admired others shining from afar to stepping onto the exhibition stage myself has been an unbelievable source of encouragement.

I also filmed a vlog over these past few days to document the whole exhibition journey, from fabric cutting to the final stage presentation and table setup. Being able to present my creations authentically to everyone and genuinely discuss fabrics and designs in the same space is probably the biggest reason why I continue handmade crafting. Huge thanks to Touhou Project for giving me such a stage to express myself. Next, I'll organize the remaining books and merch, hoping more fellow fans will see my design philosophy in the future!