Posted by Thanks to a collaboration between reality series GameMaster and geek chic brand Heroicouture, viewers will have a chance to wear gamer fashion from the show before it even airs. The new apparel and accessories collection features sophisticated clothes, boots, scarves, and other items inspired by the series’ color scheme and samurai/alien mascot, Hawk.
Hosted by Wil Wheaton of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame, GameMaster pits amateur esports gamers in a competition for a $100,000 prize. Created by Atlanta-based Peach Maria Productions, the series was originally slated to film in 2021, but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Filming is now scheduled to start in January with a tentative air date of spring 2023 via streaming.
However, gamers and geeks don’t have to wait for the show to air to get a sneak preview of the GameMaster + Heroicouture collection. Gamer fashion from the collaboration is gradually being released on Amazon.
Heroicouture CEO and head designer Sandra L. Botero was tasked with creating apparel to be worn on the show by the contestants, as well as available for purchase by viewers. GameMaster contestants were encouraged to pick which pieces they want to wear on camera, Sandra said.
“Everybody loved the kimono, most picked the boots. There were two or three women who wanted everything.”
Designing the collection
Sandra began the process of designing the collection in October 2021, so she was was excited to see the finished pieces when they recently began to arrive from the manufacturer.
“It was wonderful,” she said. “It was great. I worked on it for so long.”
Before she began designing, Sandra met with GameMaster executive producer and showrunner Jacquie Dincauze. They discussed what kind of fashions she was looking for and what she liked about Sandra’s designs for Heroicouture. Sandra’s brand for “chic geeks” tends toward the sophisticated, something that’s not always easy to find in the pop-culture market.
“(Jacquie) said she didn’t want to put me in a box,” Sandra said. “She wanted me to be creative and just go with things. “
The showrunner sent her a pitch deck for inspiration with the series color scheme and mascot (a nonbinary samurai/alien named Hawk) and other details, like the GameMaster title in Kanji characters. “The creative juices just started going,” Sandra said.
She began researching “what mostly women who are gamers wear, what they tend to be more comfortable with.” She also talked through the designs with her daughter, artist Jamie L. Botero, who works with Sandra on Heroicouture. Sandra discovered gamers come in all different styles, from kawaii to goth girls, “all across the board.”
“So I thought, OK, well, I can really get creative then because (gamers) really seem to like all types of things.”
Hands-free, ethical gamer fashion
Sandra’s design priorities included an emphasis on hands-free gamer fashion with features like pockets, pouches, and utility belts. “I noticed that a lot of people carry their gamer gear with them,” she said.
While GameMaster plans to offer another clothing line that’s more casual and gender neutral, Sandra was given free reign by the show’s team to cater to women.
“They’re very much about inclusivity, like we are, and diversity and they wanted to be able to offer more for women,” she said.
“They wanted to break down the whole “Gamergate” issue that’s going on. That’s why I just went ahead and went feminine with (the designs), as much as I could. There’s not enough out there for women anyway.”
Due to shortages in the industry, Sandra faced challenges in sourcing suppliers and fabrics. She worked with a manufacturer in Guatemala that uses ethical fabrics made in Central America. The company hires mostly women from the indigenous community, paying them a living wage and educating them with the goal of helping them find jobs that fit their interests.
Sandra said the GameMaster + Heroicouture collection is “a little bit more expensive because I wanted better quality fabric that has stretch, that doesn’t fall apart, and it’s soft and durable. I think it’s worth it to pay extra to get good quality.”
Apparently, the GameMaster production team more than approved of Sandra’s work. She’s accepted an offer to be their head costume designer and is in the process of moving with her family to Atlanta. She will continue to head up Heroicouture as well.
What’s next for Heroicouture
According to Sandra, the GameMaster team is exploring the idea of designs for gaming avatars in the metaverse. This would involve a Heroicouture boutique with unique clothing for avatars and, eventually, matching apparel for gamers and their digital avatars. NFTs may also be part of some of Heroicouture’s future designs.
“Sandra’s creative vision will revolutionize the GameMaster audience’s experience and achieve a wholly unique, fun, and unexpected fan experience,” showrunner Jacquie Dincauze said. “Unscripted television has never utilized fashion, virtual or in the real world, in such a context. This kind of creativity and focus on the fan experience helps cement the identity of the show in peoples’ minds and allows our audience to completely immerse themselves in the GameMaster universe for themselves and their avatars.”
GameMaster + Heroicouture Review
Temple of Geek Chic was honored to preview the GameMaster + Heroicouture collection. Models Zaryfe, Kaylee, and Lizzie rocked the gamer fashion in a photo shoot at LA’s Griffith Observatory and Park. Here’s our review:
Pointed Collar Top
The bright magenta and retro/sci-fi style of this top is a charming combination. We love the extra touch of glam in the form of a sparkly turquoise gem peeking out from the collar. This top would look equally fetching with jeans, a skirt, or dress pants. You could effortlessly go casual or classy with this quirky piece.
“I wanted to do something that would be just like a staple piece that could be worn with everything,” Sandra said. “I didn’t want to do it too traditional. That’s why I went ahead and did a longer collar.”
The designer couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing though. That’s how the sweet, little jewel at the collar came to be. “Something I do when I wear a collared top, I’ll put a broach on there,” she said. “I kept thinking this needs a broach, like Hawk’s gem,” which adorns the mascot’s forehead.
The feel of the top is smooth and stretchy. It closes at the back with a cute fabric button and elastic loop so delicate they may need reinforcing at some point. The sleeves and cut of this fun, but polished shirt make for a stylish fit. However, if you’re curvier, figuring out the right size might be a challenge.
For reference, Zaryfe wore a size large, but this top is a snug fit and runs small, so consider going up one or two sizes.
Plaid Gamer Skort
Sandra describes this skirt/short combination as “a futuristic kilt.” We love the nontraditional colors of the vibrant plaid print. It’s like a stretchier twist on the classic, pleated skirt. A slit at the side offers a peek of the undershorts, which are fitted, but not quite as tight as a biker short. The fabric is comfy and cool and, best of all, there are pockets! This would be an unexpectedly versatile addition to your wardrobe.
Kaylee said the skort fit her style, which is “a little punk rock. I could pair this with a band t-shirt. It’s fun.”
Kaylee modeled the skort in a medium and Zaryfe wore it in a small. It fit pretty true to size.
Square-Neckline Puff-Sleeve Blueprint Top
This fanciful puff-sleeve top is one of Sandra’s personal favorites. “I was thinking of me,” she said. “I was like, what do I want to wear? I really like puff sleeves right now and not having a traditional neckline works … with all different body types.”
With the chiffon sleeves, she also took temperature concerns into consideration. “Being that I live in Florida, well, I thought it would be nice to have chiffon because it gets hot.”
The cool fabric and soft, silky feel of this elegant but geeky top does have an extra comfy feel. With a print emblazoned with mascot Hawk and Kanji characters, those sheer, dreamy puff sleeves really make the look.
“I love the sleeves,” model Lizzie said. She styled the top beautifully with a short black skirt and fun tights, which had us imagining what other brilliant ways we could wear it.
Lizzie modeled a 2XL. Size up if you prefer a looser fit.
Mock Turtleneck Long Sleeved Top
Lizzie, who is a Trekkie, couldn’t contain her glee over this mock turtleneck top, which reminded her of the sci-fi classic’s iconic uniforms. “This is very Wil Wheaton, very Star Trek,” she said. “I’m channeling my inner Wil Wheaton.”
Sandra explained the mock turtleneck was actually inspired by sports uniforms because GameMaster is an esports-themed show. “I … went back to the track suits of the ‘70s,” she said. “So I actually went back and watched Jackie Brown. I thought it might be cool to make it like a more modernized tracksuit. Thus, the stripes on the side.”
Those colorful retro stripes are one of our favorite details on this stretchy, comfortable top, along with the mock neck and mesh detail (although some of the models wished the mesh was a little more sheer).
Lizzie said of all the GameMaster + Heroicouture pieces she tried, “this is the one I’d wear the most.”
Temple of Geek Chic photographer Monica also tried on the shirt and found it to be “super comfortable.” “It’s fitted in a nice way,” she said, noting that the mock neck was “a little warm.”
Lizzie wore a 2XL. Size up if you prefer a looser fit. The GameMaster + Heroicouture collection also features Track Palazzo Pants that match this top.
Hawk Moto Jacket
Inspired by Hawk’s armor, this vegan leather moto jacket is an attention-grabber. The rounded wrists and the jacket’s seams evoke the samurai/alien’s signature uniform. The gem on their forehead is represented in blue embroidery on the collar.
There are a lot of great ideas here. The combination of vivid pink and yellow is dazzling. The armor-like style juxtaposed with the more feminine princess cut and peplum style add flair to the look. We love the way the GameMaster logo is splashed prominently across the back. This is such a cool-looking jacket, a real statement piece made of high-quality materials.
We think this jacket might actually work better in a softer, more flexible fabric. As it is, the vegan leather is very stiff. The models had some difficulty moving their arms while wearing it and the high collar wasn’t comfortable when zipped. While we loved the bold, sassy concept of this design, it didn’t work for us on a practical level. However, if you’re looking for a statement piece and less concerned about functionality, you’ll want to grab this moto jacket asap.
Kaylee and Zaryfe both modeled the jacket in size medium. It’s a tight fit. If you’re curvier, you may not be able to zip it up.
Galaxy Gamer Kimono
Based on a Heroicouture cardigan design that already happens to be a favorite of ours, this outerspace/gaming-themed kimono is a ton of fun to wear. It boasts a flattering cut, generous sleeves, and deliciously sheer fabric. The Galaxy Gamer Kimono is ideal for the space-obsessed gamer. It also works for gamers of all genders. Sandra noted that many of GameMaster’s male contestants chose it to wear on the show.
“It’s so soft and light and cool and flowy,” Lizzie said. “It’s like a cape. I love it.”
Best of all is the busy, colorful print featuring Hawk amid constellations, suns, planets, Earths, shooting stars, moons, clouds, flowers, video game controllers, and tiny GameMaster logos.
“The print is very cute,” Lizzie said.
Lizzie wore the kimono in size XL and it fit well.
Hawk Moto Boots
Another of our favorites from the GameMaster + Heroicouture collection, these plaid moto boots would instantly spice up your winter wardrobe. We love everything about them, from the shiny, black vegan patent leather, to the exclusive plaid print, to the chunky heel. Each lace-up boot comes with a surprise detail — a tiny belt with a zipper pouch buckled around the ankle. It’s removable, which adds to the boots’ versatility.
Sandra said the design was inspired by some classic footwear from her past. “I was remembering how I loved to wear Doc Martens and my daughter loves to wear Doc Martens.”
In keeping with her mission to create hands-free apparel, she added the “little pocket” on the boot as a place for gamers to stash their keys or other small necessities. “I (thought) it would be fun for the boot to have its own belt,” she said.
These extremely on-trend shoes will instantly level up any outfit. “They’re very cute,” Zaryfe said.
Zaryfe modeled a size 8. She’s usually a size 7 to 7½, so the boots run slightly small. They’re also available in a men’s version with a lower heel.
Gaming-themed Accessories
GameMaster + Heroicouture also features gamer fashion accessories with designs revolving around the Hawk mascot. We found them to be delightful, high-quality, and convention-friendly.
Convertible Ita Backpack
Featuring Hawk in all their pink, armored glory, this ITA bag has a pair of straps that enable it to convert from a backpack into a messenger bag or purse. It’s perfect for gamers on the go, roomy enough to stash lots of gear, and a convenient way to display all your geeky pins.
Gamer Belt
The creative design of this utility belt was an unexpected surprise. Studded with clips that can attach to three pouches of varying sizes and shapes, it’s flexible, functional, and fun. The pouches are colorful and adorable. The largest one is the right size to hold a Nintendo Switch. If it’s too big to wear on the belt, you can easily remove it and stash it in your bag.
“This is a Batman level utility belt,” Monica said. We could see it becoming a new convention trend.
Scarves
Scarves have always been a Heroicouture staple, so it’s no shock to find four styles with unique prints in the GameMaster collection: the Aqua Leopard Gamer Scarf, Pink Leopard Gamer Scarf, Plaid Gamer Scarf, and Sakura Gamer Scarf.
Featuring cute patterns and the bright GameMaster color palette, they’re silky-soft and easy to style. They’re just the right size for wearing in your hair or tying around the neck, wrist, or on a bag. The models spent quite a bit of time playing with them.
Overall
We’re longtime fans of Heroicouture because of the brand’s one-of-a-kind geek chic aesthetic, comfy, quality designs, and commitment to inclusiveness. Discovering the brand’s new collaboration with the upcoming GameMaster reality series sparked a lot of joy for us as geeks who love fashion.
A bold, sophisticated apparel collection for video gamers is definitely a rarity, especially one oriented toward women gamers. That being said, we appreciate that the clothes and accessories are friendly to gamers of all genders.
While we love the playful prints and styles, they’re also practical, thanks to designs that enable gamers to carry or wear their gear and an emphasis on comfort and stretchy fabrics. The brand’s commitment to ethical manufacturing and inclusive sizing is a bonus. Just make sure to go up one or too sizes because this collection runs small.
It’s not hard to imagine gamers and geeks wearing these pieces to conventions and garnering a lot of attention. Working within the parameters of the GameMaster aesthetic has pushed designer Sandra to creative new heights. While her latest work is eye-catching and fashion forward, it’s also like nothing we’ve seen before.
We look forward to seeing how the gamer fashion looks on the contestants when GameMaster airs next year. Since the collection will be available before the show airs, it provides fans a unique opportunity to be ready to represent when it finally streams.
A few items in the collection are currently available. The rest will be released gradually. You can shop the GameMaster + Heroicouture collection on Amazon or the Heroicouture website.
Photos by Monica Duarte
Read more about Heroicouture:
Millennium Falcon gets style upgrade with Heroicouture print
Celebrate Doctor Who’s return with Heroicouture’s geeky styles
Sophisticated brand celebrates Marvel and DC superheroes, RBG
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