Materials and weapons

[Sorontar ()]

I am starting a design for a costume standard based on a Fringe character who is mainly in the EU novels and comics. However, I have a few general questions about RL costuming that are not character-specific:

1) Is there any advice on how to construct or buy commonly used costume elements like firearms and holsters, belts, pouches, gaiters?

2) Are there resources about what blasters etc. have been represented in the publications so I can try and identify which have been used by a character (and hence make defining and maybe constructing them easier)?

3) What is the RL attitude towards fabric materials for costumes that aren't based on real items of clothing, e.g. comics vs movie costumes? If the character is wearing a brown jacket, can a new proposed costume standard use any fabric for the jacket that looks "reasonable" (e.g., potentially suede, other leathers, denim, linen, velvet) or are there rules on what can't be used?

Thanks,

Sorontar
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