when a young person is in a fabric store….?
Okay, so…I’m a cosplayer. An as any cosplayer would know, i have to buy fabric. @.@ But…how come when i go to a store like mary jo’s or joanns or even the fabric and craft section of walmart, (no offense anyone) old women look at me like i’m not supposed to be allowed into the store? I mean, i never get rude, i’m always patiant when i ask to have a special item or have my material cut, and, as an instinct, i always hold doors, use polite speech, etc. I just want my material like everyone else, you’d think they would be proud that a young person wants to sew in todays world ;-;
Ah, okay i shall explain further. Cosplay means “costume play”. Cosplay can be anything really, but most (not all 
) cosplayers make costumes of anime or video game characters. There are cosplayers who make fantasy costumes, science fiction costumes, etc. though
they aren’t as recognized in a sense as the cosplayers who make the outfits or costumes of anime characters…
did that help? ^//^
And to be honest, i actually have more trouble with the people shopping in the store more so than i do the actual sales people. the only time i ever had trouble with a sales person was in a walmart actually, and she just wasn’t very nice at all .__. and like i said, it’s ingrained on me to be polite
and im glad there are people who are happy that we youngin’s (lawls XD) have found joy in sewwing.
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I have had the same thing happen to me and I am 43.
I think it is great that you are sewing.
It is not right and not fair. Your money is just as good as someone who is older. I have seen this happen to my sons when they shop at the mall.
Maybe try asserting yourself in a nice but confident way. You are probably worried that you will seem rude. It is not rude to assert yourself and ask for what you want in the store. Yes, they are your elders and you should respect them —- but, they are your servers when you go into their store. They are getting paid to serve CUSTOMERS and there is no age requirement for a customer.
I am sorry this has happened to you. Believe it or not, there are plenty of adults out there who would be thrilled to wait on a young person who is sewing.
I used to work at Joann’s. We have a lot of cosplayers in the area too. Too be honest, I think part of this might just be your perception and not what the staff is actually thinking or feeling. When I worked there, we never paid any attention to someones age or what type of fabric they were buying. The ones that always drove us crazy were people who wanted to make these really elaborate costumes, even though they had no sewing experience and it was the night before halloween! And they come in with an elaborate pattern and want us to walk through it with them and but we would have to stop and explain basics, like what a selvage edge is.
Also, Joann is notorious for under staffing their stores. Especially in the smaller stores. There simply are not enough people working to help people the way they should be helped.
Honestly, try not to take it personal. I don’t think it’s personal at all.
okay, I am not a “young” person and I am delighted to see those younger than me taking up the sewing habit but I do not understand the term “cosplayer”, can you explain it to me? Don’t worry about other peoples opinions – if you are enjoying yourself and being kind to others what more could anyone ask of you — HAPPY SEWING, BUYING FABRICS, ETC.”
Perhaps they are just thunder-struck that a young person interested in sewing.
Next time you think they are giving you “the look”, smile and say hello.
BTW, I am an old person and I know what Cosplay is.
Have fun while you are still flexible (lol).
It is human nature to judge a person on looks alone. I’m absolutely NOT saying that’s right. But unfortunately it happens all the time. Many older people (say 45+) have not yet come to terms with highly individualized body ornamentation such as piercings, tattooss, or even hairstyles or clothing choices that they may find unusual. Now, I realize you mentioned none of the above conditions, but if any are a visible factor this could account for the “cold shoulder” from other customers. Although I I’ve never participated and don’t know much about characters orstory liness, I know what cosplay is, and the concept is very intriguing. Most people don’t have a problem accepting historical reenactors, Medieval Faire players, or even hard core Trekkies, and as cosplay becomes more well known, no one will think twice. I think we die when we forget how to play, whether that’s a hobby, sport, or role playing. Keep smiling and being nice, and keep playing!
Lemme tell you what happened to me in a sewing store…I’m over 45 and I’ve been sewing all my life. I do it for a living now and I am thrilled that you young un’s are taking up sewing again. I’ll even help i stroe help is ignoring someone or they have no idea how to answer a question. Heck, I’ll even take others aside and help them pick fabric if the clerks are rude or busy. I want to encourage sewing because it’s fun and creative. There’s a whole age group that doesn’t even know how to sew on a button! So if you sew: More power to you! And my kids are their friends are into cosplay…every year at Anime North they dress up and they buy me cat girl and rabbit girl stuff for my birthday. So one day I needed some special glow in the dark thread to finish some t’s I was delivering to a store.. so I go off to the closest sewing store…and it was quilty lady day, the morning when the quilting club met. These ladies, some of whom were younger than me…well they were wearing quilted vests and quilted jackets and carrying quilted purses and stuff and I was in my usual clothes: a denim skirt from recycled jeans a beaded boho top and hand made jewelery and they looked down their noses at me. The lady who owns the store was quite nice and friendly and I got my thread and ordered some large cones for me. As I left I was barely out the door one of these quilty ladies sniffed about the kind of people who she lets in her store and the owner laughed and said “That lady could teach me, the instructor a few things about sewing. She’s a professional designer and you should see the things she can make!” A week later I went back and said I heard what the one quilty lady said and the store owner apologized and said some sewing ladies can be quite snobby for unknown reasons. She said if anyone in the store or the sales staff gives me trouble when she’s not there to make a note of it and she would say something.
So it happens to all of us. Just be nice back and make the rude people look bad. I have some trouble with other customers in fabric stores myself. And when it comes to sales people, some are nice, some aren’t. I try to be nice too, it’s less stressful on a personal level to smile, be nice and don’t let other’s rudeness bother me. And keep sewing!