Rising Stars: Meet Sophie Owens of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Owens.

Hi Sophie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always loved making things, the outlet just changed as I got older. Growing up I made video games, websites, model train layouts, artwork, you name it. Cosplay always interested me but I had no idea where to start. Around 2015 I did a bunch of research online and put together a pretty budget friendly Boba Fett costume for my local convention. It was a blast, I picked up a lot of new skills, and it connected me with a few costume clubs in the area.

Later that year I went to another convention and met someone who would end up being a huge part of my story. He was leading one of the local clubs and was an incredibly talented maker. He took me under his wing and started teaching me everything he knew, what materials to use, where to find them, techniques, all of it. A few years later he asked me to come work with him as he wanted to revive his prop making company. We worked together under Black Tusk Workshop until COVID hit.

By that point I had learned a ton, both from him and on my own. I was using shop space my Dad let me borrow, had built up a solid following for my Boba Fett paint work, and was just getting into vacuum forming. When COVID hit my friend had to move on and find higher paying work to support his family. He ended up growing into a career as a jeweler, and I took that moment to rebrand on my own, first as Neo Fett and eventually Neo Prop Shop.

I’m still probably best known in the Boba Fett community but I’m branching out as much as I can. I went from barely knowing how to make and paint armor to running my own shop with a CNC machine, laser cutter, sewing machine, table saw, power tools, display cabinets, so much more, and a lot of good people along the way.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like I mentioned, the partner who got me started had to move on to a different career, which was a big shift. On top of that I’ve been building this business out of apartments, garages, and sheds for years. It took a long time to actually turn a profit once you factor in the cost of materials and tools.

That said, I’ve been really lucky in other ways. My wife has been incredibly supportive throughout all of it, and my friends have helped push me to try new things, get into craft fairs (under the name Sorcery & Sundries), and keep moving forward. The local costume clubs have also done a lot for getting my name out there and meeting friends, so a big shout out to Rancor Clan of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club and the Ohio Garrison of the 501st. Those communities have meant a lot to me.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Boba Fett is my specialty but I will paint, fabricate, or build props from any franchise. Over the last nearly ten years I’ve probably put in hundreds of hours studying that costume specifically. I’ve sculpted my own armor and gauntlet molds to accurately recreate pieces on the vacuum former, and I’ve spent a lot of time breaking down the original paint work so I can replicate it as closely as possible. I’m working on doing the same thing with other characters now too.

What I think sets me apart is pretty simple. A lot of people in this industry cut corners, are hard to communicate with, or just aren’t that easy to work with. I try to be the opposite of that. Everything I put out is going to be done at the highest quality I can manage, and I’m going to actually work with the people who come to me. Customer service is a huge part of Neo Prop Shop and honestly I think that’s what keeps people coming back. In fact I know some customers are repeat customers because of my customer service.

I also have a really strong eye for detail, probably more than most people realize. I’ll repaint an entire commission if I’m not happy with it. A small imperfection in a resin cast or a vacuum form pull is enough for me to set it aside and start over.

The other thing I feel strongly about is being open with my process. A lot of people in the cosplay world guard how they make things like it’s a trade secret. I don’t believe in that at all. I’m only here because people took the time to teach me, and people are going to figure things out eventually anyway. So why make them struggle through it alone? Just tell them how it works, where to get materials, how to make things. Making is for everyone.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Honestly, I think a lot of people are surprised to find out I’m a woman. I didn’t show my face much online for a long time. Then when in costume Boba Fett wears a helmet so not that many people saw my face in general. When I finally started posting some selfies the reactions were pretty telling. Looking at my Instagram demographics my audience is overwhelmingly male, which makes sense because the community around this character is very male dominated.

When people picture a woman in the cosplay space they usually picture someone doing the sewing. Which is funny because sewing is actually the one thing I’m not great at. It’s almost always the first thing I’ll bring someone else in to help with if a project calls for it. Everything else I handle myself, but sewing has never been my strong suit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://neopropshop.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/neopropshop
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/neopropshop
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bh51512/
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/neopropshop.bsky.social
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NeoPropShop
• Other: https://discord.gg/ptB9cxgUAX