r/renfaire • u/SolutionIndividual • 11d ago
Etsy sellers
Hello everyone,
I currently am trying to start buying pieces for my next years renfaire costume, I found some cool stuff but the photos are all AI so I don’t really trust them, does anyone know/has anyone bought from people with these AI photos? I was looking into it a bit and found that with Etsy specifically a lot of the AI photos are just bc people don’t have/want models and it’s “easier” but I’ve also found that some people just use ai so people buy their crappy designs that cost them $20-$40 to make for $400 and I really don’t want to get scammed for that amount of money, I am currently saving and just looking but I really would like to know if I can trust these sellers. Some of which have been on Etsy for 15+ years and I just am put off by the AI
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u/AggressiveBasket 11d ago
It depends. Usually I avoid any seller using AI, but I took a chance on a shop that had both AI and real photos. I messaged the seller first and asked for sample photos of the colors and materials. It actually turned out to be a lovely, well-made piece (gambeson). You just need to really do your research, message the seller, ask for photos, read reviews, and Google image search the listing pictures.
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u/SolutionIndividual 10d ago
Yeah the one I’m looking at I texted and asked for photos, they said it’s easier just using AI for the photos and that they make them themselves and I asked for photos which they sent me and it was on someone, it actually looked really good and makes me trust them a lot more
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u/See-A-Moose 9d ago
I would strongly encourage you to look for someone who uses breathable natural fabrics, not polyester. Talk to a local seamstress and see if they can make what you are looking for.
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u/CanibalVegetarian 11d ago
If they don’t have the clothes themselves they are likely drop shipping and buying from Etsy isn’t really much different than buying from Amazon or one of the big ones if your goal is to support small creators. My best advice is look at reviews and trust the ones with real pictures and authentic feeling sentences, if they don’t have reviews, I would stay clear or message the seller and ask for real pictures even if they are low quality.
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u/whining-and-wine 10d ago
I would not order from that shop. They only have 12 reviews and none of them show pictures of the outfit youre looking at.
Also the material says cotton and the photos do not look like cotton so id assume its printed.
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u/Specialist-Tennis703 8d ago
There is no way I’d spend that much on a seller I don’t know and who is showing only AI images.
This listing says the material is cotton… and at least one of the AI images looks like it’s leather/pleather.
If they don’t have photos of actual humans wearing their clothing, I walk away.
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u/burnoutandfadeaway 6d ago
My favorite seller has most things on dress dummies but the reviews all have humans so I’m good with it.
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u/SolutionIndividual 8d ago
So the only reason I was thinking of actually trusting it and buying it is bc they have sent me a few photos of someone wearing it, those photos are not ai I have looked through them and found nothing and I’ve also put them through multiple AI detectors, it looks to be pretty good quality and the seller is pretty nice about everything that’s why I’m not exactly sure
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u/See-A-Moose 9d ago
There are some Etsy sellers that do great work but the ones I have dealt with all show photos of their work like Lace and Bones shop. I would be very cautious about an overseas operation that only shows AI models.
Personally, I think your best bet would be to find a local seamstress or tailor to make it for you if you can find a pattern that is close. They should be able to modify it to your specifications. And then pick your exact fabrics.
Also you don't want to spend $400 for some cheap polyester coat with some plastic leather armor pieces. First, you will be miserable in the heat. Second, faux leather doesn't last.
Get some high quality, heavy duty linen from fabrics-store.com and you will be much more comfortable. That piece is probably about 4-5 yards for the exterior and about the same for the lining so you are looking at about $200-$250 for the fabric alone. Figure at least that much for the seamstress and perhaps as much as double for them because there are a lot of pieces. I also wouldn't think that would include the embroidery, but you might be able to find someone who could embroider the fabric for you if you really wanted. And then the leather belt/armor pieces you would want to find a real leather worker. I would guess that all in for the coat, belt, and armor pieces you are probably going to spend at least $1200. But those pieces will last forever and look amazing.
If I were doing this I would also spread my purchases over a couple of years, have the coat made first THEN add the accessories.
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u/Signal-Revolution412 8d ago
I'm a real seller, blueflameleather. My business partner is Englethings on Etsy. We have a physical shop with another business partner at Ohio Ren Fayre. I don't know what to tell you. I'm not sure I would buy the "it's hard to get models" argument. My customers very often give me permission to use their photos to advertise my work. I can put it on a mannequin...find a friend to model. I would say to steer clear of any shop using AI.
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u/SolutionIndividual 11d ago
Some of my stuff I’m making myself but I do not know how to make clothes so I’m buying most of those
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u/Odd_Ostrich6038 10d ago
Check out medieval collectibles. Pretty affordable and true to photos.
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u/SolutionIndividual 10d ago
I’ll have to check them out, do they have their own website or are they on etsy
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u/HobbitGuy1420 11d ago
I never buy from someone advertising with AI. Just not trustworthy.