Beyond the Cosplay: Inside the Creative World of RITHE - FANFES'25 Written Interview!

For RITHE, cosplay is more than performance—it's a fusion of art, identity, and community. Known for their masterful designs and transformative characters, RITHE has built a reputation not only for stunning visuals but for authenticity and heart. In this exclusive interview, we dive into the intricacies of costume crafting, the highs and chaos of convention life, and the deeper personal journey that cosplay has shaped. From foam builds to self-expression, RITHE shares what it truly means to embody your passion—one stitch, one con, and one character at a time.

(RITHE at FANFES'25 Stage)

1. In your 11 years of cosplaying, what kept you going during the most difficult part of your cosplay career?

Rithe: I honestly wouldnt say there was a hard time in my cosplay career itself, its the family thats against this hobby turned career… so its the pure love for cosplay that kept me going, i guess?

2. How do you believe you can connect or inspire others with this craft which is Cosplaying?

Rithe: When i first started cosplaying all i wanted was to look like “that cool character” in whatever anime or game i was watching and looking at how other cosplayers dress up and take photos of themselves always made me excited and want to try it myself, im hoping as i keep doing what i believe in i can inspire some that comes across my works~ but also! Sometimes when i cosplay less well known characters, i do hope some people can go and check out the series im cosplaying.

3. If cosplaying wasn't introduced to you what would you be focusing on today, or which career would you be threading on today?

Rithe: If cosplay wasnt the thing im focused on right now i would probably be doing  interior design work? As thats what i got a degree in haha

4. What would be your most challenging cosplay & why?

Rithe: The most challenging cosplay ive done would be saber alter’s HUKE version. Its the pure complexity of the costume, and even when its done it was almost impossible to transport and walk in, but was so worth it.

5. What’s the hardest part about being a full-time cosplayer? 

Rithe: I think it managing my time… there are many ways to go about being a full time cosplayer, patreon, gank, live stream, boothing, guesting, endorsements, sponsors, etc. as full timers we are not only the cosplayer, we are also our own manager, product designer, photo editor, social media manager, for some even making wigs, costumes, and many more. Everything in cosplay takes up so much time, its really truly the hardest part to manage our time wisely qwq

6. What are the tips or words of wisdom can you share to those starting out in their influencer / cosplay hobby?

Rithe: I always like to tell people to take lots of photo,as a hobbyist you can look back and remember all the good times. People and experiences come and go and in the cosplay circle there is alot of “once in a life time” experiences and photo is one of the best way to always remember it. For people trying to be professional, its important to keep track of improvements, what worked, what didnt.

7. How has cosplaying or the cosplay industry shaped you as a person? 

Rithe: Definitely, i started cosplaying when i was just turning 16, all my friends are cosplayers, my first solo overseas trip was due to cosplay, and now i dedicate all my time to it, so ofcourse its made me who i am today~

8. What has been your biggest challenge as an international cosplayer?

Rithe: Staying confident? Theres alot of awesome people out there and alot of time i fall into a spiral of “ am i good enough to be standing beside them?” the reality is sometimes yes, sometimes no, and sometimes it doesnt matter, but it does get hard to keep yourself in check.

(from Rithe 莉提's FB page)

9. How do you decide which character to bring to life next, and what goes into making it perfect? 

Rithe: I am currently working on Honkai star Rail’s Saber~ i picked out fabrics i know will flow well for photo taking and im going to give myself plenty time to work on it!

10. What has been the most technically or emotionally challenging cosplay you’ve tackled, and how did you overcome it? 

Rithe: Its not necessarily the cosplay itself but the situation surrounding it. Its my fate stay night saber costume that i made for WCS. its alot of new technics to make costumes that i never tried, and since we were going for a competition, it not just any costume im making, it was a costume im trying to make for a win, and that was very stressful.

11. What tips do you have for someone who wants to start cosplaying but feels overwhelmed? 

Rithe: There is nothing to worry about, generally i think the cosplay circle is friendly, we hear drama here and there, but its not a normal thing, majority of the people are chill and just here in the community to have fun. Costumes now a days are also much better quality and abit more affordable than before, we have lots of tutorials online as well. You will be able to find all the help you need even before you start your fist cosplay, there is nothing to worry about!

12. Having been a guest cosplayer in the Philippines for the third time, what are the things that you miss or crave the most while you're in the country?

Rithe: I always miss the snack dynamite! And ofcourse my fans here! My first time visiting philippines was when i just 4 years into cosplaying, and now its my  11th year, alot of the fans here watch me grow as a cosplayer but also as a human, and that relationship with everyone here, i also miss very dearly.

13. As one of the biggest fans of Saber, what has been your favorite version of her?

Rithe: DEFAULT for sure, Og saber best saber.

14. You got to be a judge at the cosplay contests at both days of FanFes.  What about a cosplayer's performance impresses you the most?

Rithe: The confidence from everyone, there are ways to be entertaining during a performance but all that builds on a confident person, and i felt like everyone had that!

15. How was your experience at your latest cosplay guesting event in Manila?

Rithe: Great as usual~ its my 3rd time back and at this point it feels less like “ going to a place to guest”, it felt more like “ going back to meet my friends” and thats exactly how this trip was like

16. Have you cosplayed as your dream character yet? Which character, if so?

Rithe: Id like to say yes, i love saber and i will always cosplay her, but to be honest i think cosplayer’s “dream” character do change very often, we are just constantly adding more characters to our cosplans XD

17. What is your message to those who want to try cosplaying?

Rithe: Nothing is stopping you, its super fun, just try it and i promise you will have a good time

18. What inspired you to choose this particular character to cosplay?

Rithe: It depends, sometimes its the game was fun, sometimes its the character being really pretty, sometimes its some meme you wanna shoot in tje cosplay, but at the end of the day its always because we like the character, in a way or another!

19. If you could cosplay any character with unlimited time and resources, who would it be and why?

Rithe: Probably some gundam mecha stuff,just because i havent tried any before haha

20. What has been your most memorable fan interaction or convention experience?

Rithe: Filming funny videos together, meeting a fan ive chatted online with for years, a fan crying after i gave them a hug, fans giving me crazy amount of food.. There isnt one particular time, but i remember alot of goodanf fun times.

21. What do you consider when choosing which character to cosplay next?

Rithe: Most of the time its simply if i like the character

22. Even in cosplay, some people are experiencing burnout, laziness, and a lack of motivation to finish crafting their costumes or continue cosplaying. As you said last weekend, you still see yourself cosplaying in the future and won't be stopping anytime soon. What is your motivation in pursuing cosplaying until today (besides Cosplay as your hobby), including catching up and finishing your costumes, and showing up in conventions or photoshoots?  

Rithe: I just enjoy cosplay, as long as im well rested, well hydrated, all i want to do is make costumes and cosplay, so its hard to say what exactly is my motivation. I DO get really excited to share photos of the costumes i made or photos from a photoshoot, thats part of what motivates me for sure

23. What is your dream character to cosplay?

Rithe: Right now i want to cosplay a really fancy version of saber and make the costume perfect.

24. What inspired you to become a cosplayer? Can you share with us what your favorite cosplay is, and why? 

Rithe: I sort of just stumbled into being a cosplayer, its was a “oh why not try” sort of situation with friends, then i just never stopped cosplaying? I do enjoy dressing up as characters i like, so if that counts. Every cosplay that i made myself, is my favourite cosplay! Just a really special feeling to be able to wear something you made youself

25. There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes, from wig styling, costume making, and posing for photoshoots. Which part of the cosplay process do you enjoy the most, and how do you overcome the challenges that come along with it?

1. If given the chance, what would your ultimate dream cosplay be?

Rithe: Id say i enjoy making the costumes the most, then its the posing for photoshoot,i especially love dynamic shots! You just solve problems that comes along, one at a time, and if its not solvable,its ok, its not the end of the world~ if given the change i wanna try big scale coses, maybe some mecha stuff, just because it would be a good challenge!

As the conversation with RITHE comes to a close, one thing is clear: cosplay is more than just costumes—it’s a powerful form of storytelling, identity, and connection. Whether they're crafting intricate armor by hand or bringing beloved characters to life on the convention floor, RITHE continues to inspire a generation of fans and creators alike.

Follow them her on social media accounts and explore their latest creations, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming con appearances. You won’t want to miss what’s coming next.

Rithe 莉提 
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ritheania
IG: https://www.instagram.com/rithedaddy
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RitheC

Thank you, CosplayPH, for this opportunity!