Making Masks/Mask Patterns

If you’ve never made a wrestling mask before, but are interested in learning how, there are a number of online resources that can help.

Closet Champion is an independent company that makes professional masks for pro wrestlers. They have a YouTube channel where they have made a number of videos showing the maskmaking process. You can find a playlist of these videos here. They also have mask patterns for sale on their website. Now keep in mind, different people have different head shapes and sizes, so you may need to experiment a bit and tweak the pattern to make it fit like you like it. The Closet Champion pattern is a good place to start though.

There are also a number of maskmakers who post videos of themselves making masks. Studying these can give you great insight into how masks are constructed, and can inspire you to make your own. Even if you don’t speak Spanish or Japanese, you can learn by watching. Jade Masks is probably the most prolific poster of maskmaking videos. He has posted both full-length builds and abbreviated sped-up videos of his process. Master Hayashi, the maker of Rey Mysterio’s masks, has posted an excellent step-by-step process video, which was previously only available through his iPhone app. The great mask craftsman Mister Cacao has a number of videos on his Fukumen Mania webpage that can be helpful, such as this video on the making of the Sato mask. You can find additional useful videos by poking around on YouTube.

Fabric Sources

The base or body of a mask can be made from many different materials: spandex, lamé, pleather, stretch vinyl, or a number of other fabrics. These can usually be found at your local fabric store, or online retailers such as Etsy or Amazon. If you’re just starting in the world of maskmaking, we suggest you start with a fabric that’s even easier to find (and cheaper!)—namely, t-shirt fabric. T-shirts have a nice stretch that makes mask fitting more forgiving, and you can just start by grabbing an old t-shirt you don’t wear anymore. Alternatively, you can buy new shirts in a variety of colours at a craft shop or most any department store. Once you get the hang of making wrestling masks from t-shirt fabrics, you can move up to spandex and other fabrics.

Vinyl Sources

When the first wrestling masks were made in Mexico, the plates (decorative elements) were made using leather. You can still make masks using leather plates, but it’s usually cheaper and easier to use vinyl. Many maskmakers use something called marine vinyl to make their first masks. This material—designed to be used for cushions for boats and other outdoor locations—comes in a variety of colours, is usually textured to resemble leather, and is easily found at fabric and upholstery shops. Finding specialty vinyls such as glossy finishes, metallics, and holographics can be more difficult to find locally in most areas. They can be found online through sources like Etsy and Amazon, where they are usually referred to as faux leather or pvc vinyl. You’ll frequently see them advertised as being offered for ribbon making, and while you can find them by the yard or by the roll, they are frequently offered in 8×10 inch sheets.

Other Supplies

Since pins would leave unsightly holes in vinyl or leather, makers of wrestling masks use glue to hold the plates of the mask in place on the body of the mask as they sew them down. Different makers prefer different glues. In Japan, the most popular glue is Konishi G17. In the United States, some makers use bottled glue like Fabri-Tac and Magna-Tac, while others prefer tube-based glues such as E6000 or Quick Hold. Experiment with the various types and see what works best for your style.

Tools

You could make a wrestling mask by handsewing it, but it’s much easier to do with a sewing machine. When sewing vinyl, it helps to use a teflon presser foot, that will glide over the surface of the vinyl instead of sticking.

In January 2021, maskmaker Dr. Omega of Omega Masks posted a series of articles discussing tools he used to make masks. An important tool in making wrestling masks is a good mannequin head, to hold the shape of the mask as you glue on the various plates. Dr. Omega produced a video that outlines where such heads can be purchased, as well as how to make your own.