Costumers of Color, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
100% volunteer-led. 100% impact. Join us in making historical costuming and public history inclusive for all races.
Costumers of Color, Inc. (CoCo) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanities organization. We create scholarships, educational events, and cultural heritage travel that welcome participants of all racial and cultural backgrounds.
Dress history and historical costuming involve the research, study, and reconstruction of past clothing to understand its cultural and physical context. Our work turns that study into experiences people can join.
Tax-deductible gifts fund scholarships for students and future historians and designers who are building careers in costuming and public history.
Symposiums, salons, LARPs, and period dinners that let people study and wear history together, in person and online.
Safe, educational journeys to Venice, New Orleans, Scotland, Ireland, Sicily, and beyond, with hands-on access to global history.
Symposiums, retreats, LARPs, and heritage trips, open to people of all races. Visit our Events & Trips page for details and booking.
December, date TBD
Jul 5–9
Scotland, UK
Jul 9–12
Scotland, UK
Impact to date: 7,000+ costumers, students, and historians served, 8 inclusive public history events held, 4 scholarships awarded, and 7 journeys led providing our community with hands-on access to global history.
To ensure that the beauty and complexity of history belong to everyone. We believe that by studying the past with truth and fairness, we can build a more unified and inclusive future. Costumers of Color, Inc. is dedicated to dismantling the ‘exclusionary lens’ in dress history, historical costuming, and public history through education, artistry, and community.
While dress historians focus on analyzing textiles and fashion’s impact on society, costumers physically recreate these garments, combining craftsmanship with experiential history.
Our vision is for welcoming and safe multicultural spaces in historical costuming and living history. The community we are building benefits from valuing individuals with varied perspectives and experiences. Together, we highlight and celebrate the contributions of communities of color to the historical record.
We ask every participant to help create a respectful, anti-racist environment. This includes following our community policies and being open to correction if harm occurs.
Your tax-deductible gift directly funds scholarships for students and inclusive programming for the public. Because we are 100% volunteer-run, every dollar you give goes straight to the mission: empowering future historians and designers, creating inclusive public history events, and facilitating safe, educational travel.
Thank you for your time and generosity!
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Watch highlights from our events, shout-outs, and behind-the-scenes looks at the garments our community recreates.
Research, recaps, and announcements from our community.
Info for those playing Machinations: Den of Lions When the houses arrive at the Villa
Q2 Newsletter — Costumers of Color (CoCo) Ciao and welcome to summer! This is the
Join Costumers of Color, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to celebrating multicultural excellence in historical costuming, for
Trips like our New Orleans Creole week sell out. Sign up for our newsletter to get new dates, symposium announcements, and scholarship news.
