The word “cosplay” was probably first coined by a Japanese journalist to describe the dressing up of visitors to the 1984 World Science Fiction Convention in Los Angeles. Previous terms, fancy dress, masquerade, didn’t quite capture the dedicated spirit of homage. If Star Trek was fundamental in starting the trend back in the late 60s, Star Wars was virtually created with the merchandising possibilities of cosplay in mind. Comic conventions around the world ever since have been crowded with Darth Vaders and Chewbaccas with varying levels of accuracy.
The fashion photographer Thurstan Redding first became interested in the people who did the dressing up when he met some on their way to an LA Comic Con in manga-influenced outfits in 2017. That started a four-year journey documenting the culture, which has become a book: Kids of Cosplay. To start with, Redding only photographed cosplayers at public gatherings, but as he got into the work he scrapped that idea; he became more interested in picturing them in their home environments, often the suburban living rooms where their fantasy worlds were created.
“What is so interesting with cosplayers is that they made me realise that everyone around me, every single day, is engaging in a miniature form of this,” Redding said in an interview with Vogue, that original catalogue of cosplay. “When you get dressed every morning, you’re presenting and projecting a version of yourself.” In this case, the various C-3POs by the roadside seem to be having a rough old day. Keen students of the genre will note the red arm of the droid, which first appeared in the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens – the new limb adopted from a fellow droid who saved C-3PO’s life. It is generally taken as a sign of the robot’s growing humanity.
• Kids of Cosplay is published by Thames & Hudson (£40). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply
