Going Ape Costume ...costume halloween fairy child santa claus suit ape suit gorilla mascot renaissance elvis marilyn monroe seamstress sewing accessories halloween french maid carmen miranda clown
Frequently Asked Questions
1.  How do I get a custom costume constructed for me?
    You send Going Ape Costume a message HERE and ask!   

    After emailing back and forth, in order to reach a meeting of the minds, a custom sewing
    contract is snail mailed to your address detailing the work necessary and the costs.  At
    the time the contract is signed a nonrefundable deposit is due, usually half the entire
    work estimate, which allows Going Ape Costume to procure materials and it reserves
    our time.

    An example of a contract can be found HERE.

    Going Ape Costume cannot, at this time, enter into custom sewing arrangements with
    clients outside of the US.
     
2.  What does a custom costume cost?
    That depends on many factors.  Fabrics vary widely in cost and quality, as does trim.   
    Some fabrics require special handling and treatment as they are utilized.   Some
    designs have many more construction details than others....Sewing on 5000 loose
    beads takes more time than sewing on prestrung bead trim...right?  Size is also a
    factor.  Rushing an order incurs an additional fee.

    After discussing each other's expectations for a custom costume, it's then a work
    estimate can be reached.  How confusing and disappointing it would be to agree to
    make a Carmen Miranda when the customer is expecting 25 yards of materials with
    several pounds of crystals and the costume maker was expecting different budget
    requirements!

    Estimates are broken down into the costs of materials and labor.  If the costume
    requires $20 a yard fabric, the customer is made aware of the source of the fabric and
    how much fabric is required.

3.  How long does making a costume take?
    Like question #2, that depends on the same variety of factors.  A simple costume may
    only take an afternoon while a complex costume, like a heavily beaded Queen Elizabeth,
    may take several months.

4.  Are there any costumes you can't make?
    Sure.  Going Ape Costume does not have unnatural costume superpowers.  We have
    our strengths and our weakness, and some laws that hinder us too.

    GAC will generally refer customers to another custom costume maker for high quality
    mascots.  They are practiced, have invested in the proper equipment and will construct
    a fabulous product.

    GAC cannot construct copyrighted or licensed costumes.  The powers that be create
    cartoon, TV and movie characters and make a lot of money doing so.  They find it rude
    when outside folks profit from their ideas.  Many costumers get around this by sewing
    characters that are close, but not quite there, which is decidedly not as nifty as if it were
    copied exactly.  Some exceptions to this are costumes based in Fandom, where the
    powers that be support a copy here or there because they recognize it's for the greater
    good of their industry.

    GAC cannot do custom latex work because of zoning laws and, well, we're allergic to
    liquid latex.

    GAC cannot do some adult or fetish work because of business licensing laws.

    GAC does not construct shoes.

5.  I have a picture of what I want.  Can I send it to you?
    Absolutely.  In fact, Going Ape Costume LOVES knowing what you want with a visual
    representation.  Costumes are a visual medium and seeing is believing.  Send images
    to becky@goingapecostume.com.

    Please refer back to question four on the subject of copyright.

6.  Have you got a warranty?
    On Going Ape Costume's custom costumes?  Absolutely.  Depending on the fabrics,  
    construction and intended use our warranty is stated in the custom sewing contract.  
    Generally, a custom costume is guaranteed for fit and wear for one year, with normal
    use.

    Going Ape Costume makes no guarantees on retail costumes.  Our return policy can be
    found HERE.

7.  Next week I've got to go to a ball/wedding/halloween party.  Help!
    Ack!  Going Ape Costume feels your pain.

    We would hate to see you go as an unintended Adam or Eve, but a rush is a rush, and
    getting a costume to you might be difficult.  Certainly GAC can ship out any costumes
    currently in stock, in house, and have it there for you on time if you're willing to pay
    express shipping fees.  Any costume requiring drop shipping would be iffy, especially
    during the Halloween season.  Constructing a custom costume in a week would
    probably be right out.

8.  There aren't as many retail costumes on this site as I see on other
sites.   What gives?
    Going Ape Costume is rather selective about which costumes it offers our customers.  
    We want you to be happy with the quality of the costumes offered...and to be blunt...
    many commercially made costumes are not constructed with quality as a high priority.  
    GAC does not want to sell you any costume that won't last past one wearing.

    If there is a costume you do not see on this site, which you cannot live without, just ask
    HERE!

9.   I like cheese.  Do you like cheese?
    Going Ape Costume supports cheeses.  Except for some processed cheese food
    products that come in twenty lb. bricks.

10.  What is your return policy?
    Going Ape Costume's return policy can be found HERE.

11.  Are any of the costumes in your gallery for sale?
    No.  The gallery is a wonderful world of costume examples.  They are a visual resume'
    and are meant to brag about what we can do.  Many of these costumes have gone on to
    live happy lives with new owners...on farms where they can run all day.

    Some of the costumes can be copied exactly and some cannot.  This depends on the
    availability of fabrics and trims.

12.  Do you rent costumes?
    At this time Going Ape Costume does not rent costumes.  However, it's being
    considered.

13.  Do you sell costume accessories, masks, wigs, halloween props or
shoes?
    Yes!  Most of these items are costume suggestions added to our main costume
    selections.  For example, if you want the ruby slippers to go along with your Dorothy
    Gale, those slippers would be found under Women's Costumes and the Dorothy Gale
    thumbnail image.  

    Another method to find these items would be to use the search function to the left.

    If there are accessories you do not see on the site, feel free to ask HERE.  Let's get you
    what you require.
Custom Costumes, Contract Sewing and Halloween