Haru Matsuri Spring Festival 2025: DIY Cosplay Takes Center Stage

Cover photo: Mira Ratel

Tripoli’s Rachid Karami International Fair came alive with creativity with the Haru Matsuri Spring Festival, organized by Kaliko. Fans, cosplayers, and enthusiasts gathered, sharing laughs, ideas, and hands on moments. More than just a festival, Haru Matsuri celebrated the authentic spirit of Lebanese anime culture, and the bonds built through creativity.

Short on Supplies, Big on Vision: Crafting Costumes Against the Odds

In Lebanon, the challenge starts with a simple reality: most cosplay materials simply aren’t available locally, and waiting for shipments from overseas is not an option.

For example, while the ideal for durable costume armor is 5–6 mm EVA foam, local shops stock only much thinner 1 mm sheets. Rather than giving up, cosplayers layer these thinner foam pieces adding plastic wrap and tape to build up the necessary strength and shape.

Yet the struggle isn’t limited to material substitutions. Achieving the perfect fit demands mastering a hands on, trial and error technique known as “tape patterning.” Cosplayers apply adhesive tape directly on their bodies to trace a custom pattern, a method that can take years to perfect.

Alongside this gritty learning process, many creators also scour local thrift stores for hidden treasures and, at times, benefit from the fresh insights of fashion students. These collaborations add value to their work and help them push through the steep learning curve inherent in turning limited supplies into art.

Wigs: The Final Touch That Brings Characters to Life

Wigs represent another major challenge. High-quality wigs are both expensive and hard to come by in Lebanon. As a result, many cosplayers repurpose and restyle what they have in hand.

When industry standard hairsprays are unavailable, shared hacks such as using silicone spray to set the style go a long way in transforming a simple wig into an iconic, character defining detail.

Spotlight: Jackie’s Journey Beyond Borders

Jackie, a cosplayer who was based in Lebanon but now lives in Austria, has been the cosplay competition organizer for the last three events and has been a community organizer in the cosplay scene since 2015.

Jackie’s creative journey began in 2015 with a makeshift Harley Quinn costume fashioned from her closet finds. In 2020, amid a hard economy and scarce resources in Lebanon, she built an impressive costume using thrifted shoes, foam clay as a stand-in for premium EVA foam, and by meticulously crafting custom patterns from scratch with locally available materials.

Determined to overcome these local hurdles, she traveled abroad to compete at the MEFCC in the UAE, where she secured second place in the gaming anime category. Her experience is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when creative passion and relentless determination come together.

Community: Turning Challenges into Collective Triumphs

A defining strength of Lebanon’s cosplay scene is its culture of sharing swapping tips and tricks that bring each project closer to perfection.

Cosplayers regularly ask, “What hack helped you get that perfect fit?” or “How did you overcome that material shortage?” This openness transforms personal challenges into communal victories, uniting every maker with creative inspiration.

Sad you missed out on the Haru Matsuri Spring Festival? Follow Kaliko to stay updated on upcoming events! You might also like: The Cosplay Community in Lebanon: A Growing Subculture