Fursuit
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Fursuit_autumn_fox_hotel.jpg
Autumn the fox fursuit
Fursuits are animal costumes typically associated with the furry fandom. They range from simple tails and ears to full costumes often cooled by battery powered fans. Closely related to mascot suits, they allow the wearer to express another side of themselves. Owners can spend less than $100 to many thousands of dollars on one fursuit, depending on complexity, design and materials used. Often times these items are sold at conventions, or online by either commission or auction. Many furries make their own using several online tutorials or newsgroups.
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Fursuit-wearing reasons
A person who wears a fursuit generally falls into one (or more) of five categories.
Job or charity work
Those who do fursuiting for a job, or to bring attention to an event or charity. This can include mascots, but not all mascots are furries. Many are hired through an agency to represent a character, while others bring their own constructions to an event instead. There are also several volunteer fursuiting groups across North America that either ask or are asked to entertain at various social functions. Some groups even set up their own charitable events or perform on the streets to passersby.
Conventions, parades, exhibitions
Those who do fursuiting for parades, exhibitions, or conventions. Oftentimes these are of a fursona who they are expressing. It is roleplay of a sort. The fursuiter may consider themselves to be expressing who they really are, or doing some exploration of who they are. This group may also wear their suits to a furmeet (smaller meetings usually among friends in an area, they may happen very rarely or every week depending on the group and location). Hallowe'en is a prime holiday for them to show off their suits in a more public setting.
Role-playing
Those who fursuit for role-play reasons. Various LARPers create highly elaborate costumes and/or fursuits for their characters. Half suits (arms, legs and a mask or makeup) are usually created for role-playing games, though some have created full-body suits. These suits wear elaborate clothes and costumes of their own, depending on the theme of the game.
Sexuality
Those who fursuit for sexual reasons. A small sub-set of the furry fandom does consider a fursuit a sexual item. This view often gives a misconception of what a fursuit is and is used for. A large number of furries do not condone these actions, or if they do - only in private and will never exhibit their work. Most fursuits sold are not made for any sexual activity, and generally hinder it due to the construction.
Spirituality
Those who fursuit for reasons of expressing their inner feelings. Some people, often therianthropes, also fursuit for reasons of expressing what they feel is their inner animal self. Most of them try to make their suits as realistic and lifelike as possible.