Mascot performers can liven up parties as well as school and sporting events. Also, mascots help in establishing associations with certain products, teams, and establishments. Case in point: try imagining McDonald’s without Ronald. Hard, isn’t it? It is probably for this reason that the mascot costumes industry continues to thrive and gain more and more clients.
And because mascots represent your brand/team/company/organization, they have to reflect exactly what it is you s
tand for. You wouldn’t want a dirty and greased up mascot prancing around and representing your organization now, do you? Aside from image and representation concerns, it’s also important to regularly check your mascot costumes for damage and defects to make them last longer. Mascot costumes can be quite costly especially if they’re custom made. Ensuring that your mascot costumes stay clean will save you from further expenses too.
Damage Inspection
Most mascot costumes companies offer a warranty for their products, so you should have your mascot costumes replaced or repaired the moment you see any major rips and tears. Also, cleaning is in order once you notice that the mascot costumes have a funky smell even after they’ve been aired out. Determining whether mascot costumes need to be cleaned also depends on the venue where they were last used and how many times they’ve been worn.
When inspecting mascot costumes for damages, these are the following you should look out for: defective Velcro, fabric tears and loose threads, peeling and/or cracks in the latex (if applicable), worn out feet soles, and undone or unglued fur in the costume. Whether or not these will constitute a minor or major repair will depend on your sound judgment and the degree of damage.
Minor and Major Repairs or Cleaning
Minor repairs and cleaning usually involve mere spot and stain removal, as well as cleaning up smudges, soiling, and matting on the mascot costumes’ fur and clothing. Minor repairs also include hand-sewing seams (make sure you use the same color of thread), replacing defective or broken hooks, buttons, and clasps, and cutting loose threads. For major repairs, it’s advisable that you have the mascot costumes company do the repair for you as these can get quite complicated and may require new materials. Also, attempting to do major repairs may void the costumes’ warranty.
Some damages can be prevented by proper handling and storage. Make sure you air out the mascot costumes between and after performances. Don’t keep them stored in an enclosed bag. Also, keep the costumes stored in a hygienic room with proper ventilation.
