Italy 🇮🇹

Like Linda (solo): Hi! I’m Like Linda, my real name is Linda, I’m 43 years old, I have been cosplaying since 2008, I have participated in many competitions, I was selected for the ICL in 2018, and in the final of the CWM in Lisbon in 2019. In everyday life I am an artisan I love working with fabrics and leathers, thanks to cosplay this has become my job, as difficult as it is I still try to carve out moments to make costumes for myself.

Piece of Cake (duo): Hello! We are Alberta and Lorenzo, in art Piece of Cake Cosplay. We are in the cosplay world since 2014, and we live it as a big passion but also as a full time job, selling costumes and patterns all around the globe. We love armors, realistic mock-ups, and weathered looking costumes. When we are not in the workshop creating costumes we work in movie productions as set designers.

How did you discover cosplay and what made you start in this hobby? How long ago?

Like Linda: I discovered cosplay in 2008 while attending a fashion school, and as an end-of-year exam I brought some cosplay-inspired clothes, since then I haven’t stopped studying it and doing it.

Piece of Cake: We started cosplay in 2014 after getting in touch with it during comic cons. But we weren’t new to costuming because we both play LARPs since a long time.

Why did you choose that project for the ICL national selection? Is this your first time joining an international cosplay competition?

Like Linda: I chose this character because I love the character very much, but also the design of the costume and because I wanted to make a complete armor in leather, and I wanted to try my hand at metallic colors on the leather. yes, I have already participated in some international competitions, including the ICL in 2018 where I wore the clothes of Captain Harlock.

Piece of Cake: We love fantasy, and Vox Machina has so many beautiful designs and charming characters. Since we first watched the series we immediately fell in love with it and knew we had to cosplay it when we got the chance. 

The only other time one of us attended an international competition was always ICL in 2019, when Alberta competed (and won!) in the solo category.

What does cosplay mean for you? And what is your favorite part of the hobby?

Like Linda: For me a very important passion, it has become my job, the part I love most is the possibility of being able to become whoever you want, but I also love studying and learning new craft techniques.

Piece of Cake: Cosplay is what we did, lived and breathed for the last 10 years, saying that it is a big part of our lives would be an understatement. 

Crafting is what we love the most, creating beautiful things using only our hands and our imaginations is always an amazing feeling.

How did the pandemic affect your motivation and project for the selections?

Like Linda: Actually not much, fortunately I was able to keep in touch with all my friends despite the problems of that time. I certainly lost some projects, but I didn’t let myself get down and I always looked ahead.

Piece of Cake: It didn’t affect it that much, we are just glad it is over.

Do you think cosplay is changing since the pandemic? Why and how?

Like Linda: Probably a little bit on social media, he has become more based on image, but I think he is already recovering, through the conventions, his play and friendship side.

Piece of Cake: It’s hard to tell. Cosplay has been changing and evolving a lot independently from the pandemic, in the last 10 years we witnessed a migration from Comic Cons to social media and probably the pandemic pushed it even further.

What do you expect from your visit to Spain? Is this your first time visiting the country?

Like Linda: I’ve come to Spain a few times, even for vacation. I expect to make new friends and have fun.

Piece of Cake: We both visited Spain many times in the past and could wait to have a proper paella once again!

Have you decided your project for the finals in Madrid? Can you give us a clue? 

Like Linda: Certainly, I had some doubts about the choice, but in the end I chose to make a different costume from the usual ones I do. With a challenging costume, and I hope to be satisfied with the final result. The costume comes from a video game, it’s a very challenging and not very well known game, a mental and physical journey in an infinite loop.

Piece of Cake: It’s been a struggle since we were juggling between few option we really liked, but eventually we decided to rock Vox Machina once again!

Describe the cosplay community in your country using five words.

Like Linda: noisy, talented, competitive, colorful, friendly

Piece of Cake: Pasta, pizza, cosplay, mamma mia!

Link to your Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter (add other social media if relevant):

Like Linda: https://www.facebook.com/LikeLinda1/ https://www.instagram.com/_likelinda_/

Piece of Cake:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pieceofcake_cosplay

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pieceofcakecosplay/

Team Italy was selected at Torino Comics