CREATING custom-made cosplay helmets has helped Siti Nur Aisyah Johari cope with grief.
The 29-year-old from Jitra, Kedah, lost her father to lung cancer in 2018 and her mother to the same disease in 2021, while her brother died in a road accident when she was still in primary school.
“I couldn’t sleep at night and felt so lonely in the quiet house, so I decided to find something to distract my mind from sad thoughts.
“I’ve been interested in cosplay since young, particularly making helmets.
“I taught myself how to make them by watching YouTube videos, learning step by step over six months until I understood how to design and produce helmets.”
Speaking to Bernama, Siti Nur Aisyah said she started around 2023 using a small, 3D printer that cost RM300 and now earns a steady income with the help of three employees and 12 printers.
So far, she has made cosplay Gundam, Predator, Power Rangers, Cybercop and Kamen Rider helmets.
She also accepts orders for bespoke helmets.
Priced from RM600 to RM900, her creations are considered affordable.
She said each helmet can take several months to finish.
They are made from polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), which is durable, while airbrushing gives them a polished look.
“The most challenging part is the design because every customer has different expectations.
“Some even request designs that don’t exist, so I have to think creatively and try to bring them to life.
“Sometimes the design alone can take days as it requires focus and many tries to get it right.
“There are times it doesn’t work and I have to start over, but that’s how I learn and improve.”
She is active on TikTok under “Sya Cosplay” where she has more than 50,000 followers.
She has also entered international markets like Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei and Indonesia and receives nearly 100 orders per month.
“It’s not just about making money but getting satisfaction from a childhood passion.”
