Uncle Iroh (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

There are spoilers to Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)

At this time, I am not using affiliate links.

---

I've waited so long to start this blog, and I'm finally just gonna do it. So buckle up, this is my big idea. Cosplay that you can wear to an office setting.

I did this at my first office job, sneaking in accessories and digging through the racks to express myself without getting fired. I've decided to escalate the project, and now I'm sewing my own outfits.

There is some psychology behind this. I was pretty depressed when I added cosplay to my daily wardrobe. Embodying characters I knew and respected helped me face challenges that would otherwise have been overwhelming. In the morning, I'd put on my blue blazer, and throughout the day I'd ask myself, “What would Dr. Beverly Crusher do?”

If the psychology part interests you, check out Dr. Janina Scarlet and her work on Superhero Therapy. I am not a mental health professional, so please don't take what I'm saying as indisputable facts. I'm just a geek with some life experience.

My very first attempt, from scratch, was sewing Honey Lemon’s costume from Big Hero 6. The outfit is super cute, but technically a disaster (no one prepared me for lapels). My second attempt is Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Let's start with the pattern: Vogue 1671. It looks like a semi-recent Gucci dress, and gives me vintage vibes. It's almost certainly something my Grandma would've worn, and I love that this look is coming back around. I chose Vogue 1671 because I could emulate Uncle Iroh’s robes’ borders without editing the pattern at all. I chose a stretch ponte knit from Mood Fabrics because they had multiple greens, alleviating any stress about mixing stretch or texture. I also found the invisible zipper at Mood. And the lining I found at a local store that sells used art supplies. Vogue 1671 is rated as an easy pattern and while it wasn't technically difficult, it was extremely difficult to make it fit my body well. I made two toiles and was dissatisfied with both. I called my mom while extremely frustrated, and she said, “Don’t make a third draft. Just make the dress.”

So I did.

While sewing it, I was able to think about what Uncle Iroh means to me as a character. Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered on Nickelodeon in 2005 when I was in middle school. My friends and I were obsessed. Uncle Iroh is a deeply fascinating character because, even though he is a member of the Fire Nation’s royal family, he chooses to support the groups his country oppresses and invades. He especially chooses to guide his nephew through a time of confusion, growth, and immense struggle so that Zuko (his nephew) can stop the cycle of violence initiated by their family. 

Iroh is not a main character. He’s content to let the younger generation of heroes save the world. At the same time, he’s actively engaged in their journey. Iroh loves his nephew and believes in Zuko so much that he overwhelmingly smothers Zuko’s self-hatred. Yes, Zuko does the heavy-lifting, but I doubt it would’ve been possible without Iroh’s love and guidance.

So how do I feel putting on my Iroh dress?

Amazing.

I first wore it to Avatar: The Last Airbender In Concert (and received so many compliments). That concert… I think it was a spiritual experience. This massive theater was packed with every age, people were crying, and I felt a massive weight lift as I lost myself in the music from my teen years.

---

A note on pictures: One reason this blog took forever is that I want professional photos of my cosplays, and photography be expensive and I spend most of my fun budget on the fabric, pattern, and notions. This is a passion project funded between groceries and rent. I’ll do my best in the near future to get some decent photos!