[YES] Firra Wolf by Starcane Arts The item being reviewed is 4 years old and may not reflect the makers current style, or work. Maker Information Starcane Arts (STRCANE) Based in California. Crafting since Oct 2011. Year of Project2022 Completion Time (?)1 - 3 Months ETA AccuracyEARLY - the item was delivered before the ETA An ETA is the Estimated Time of Arrival for a project. In other words, an estimated turnaround time. An ETA is not a deadline. Review Date9 March 2023 RelationshipThe maker is NOT a friendThis relationship was indicated by the reviewer at the time this review was written. Review InformationReviewerFirra Twitter: FirraWoof Prior ExperienceNo, this is my first fursuit. Wear Time16 hours Informed Maker of IssuesNo, there were no issues. Firra Positive ProjectThis item was a commission Paid: A Lump Sum of $6000 and over ◼️ Initial Contact: June 2022 Completion/Ship Date: September 2022 Shipping Origin: USA Type: Fullsuit Style: Toony Padding: Plantigrade SpeciesName: Wolf Found in: Canidae(?) Features: None Concept Art Photos of Completed Product Overall Initial ContactIt was very easy, once openings are announced there's a form to fill in order to enter, and the answer will come via email. Slot openings are announced on Starcane's Telegram channel as well as Twitter. The instructions for measurements and the DTD were good, there were pictures and descriptions of what to do. Maker CommunicationThe time to get a response was quite short and Starcane is generally quite responsive. All process updates and questions were sent via email to have a formal trace of the decisions, but they were also able to be contacted informally through Telegram (though email still remained the single source of truth). I was treated very well, and their communications always read as friendly to me, and it was always a joy to ask a question or interact with the maker. Everything about the process was made clear to me before work started, and it was followed essentially the entire way through, plus there is a Trello board to see updates regarding your project. Also, every commissioner is given access to a private telegram group where Starcane posts frequent updates with WIP pictures and discussions about ongoing projects, which makes it even easier to follow along in real time. Project Completion TimeMy project was finished a lot faster than I thought it would, it was in the queue for about a month, then the whole suit took about two months to complete. Throughout, I was always aware of where I was in the queue and roughly when work would start on my project. Time expectations were clear (though they were faster than initially mentioned), and items were shipped almost as soon as they were finished. Shipping was tracked and insured and it arrived on time, though shipping outside the US is unavailable, so the packages weren't stuck in customs. Overall Project QualityI'm so happy with the final result of the suit. All the different pieces fit together perfectly and quite seamlessly to really bring the character to life. Aesthetically speaking, I don't think I could have dreamed of anything better than what was delivered. In terms of build quality and durability, it feels really solid, and like I won't have to worry about anything while wearing the suit, and it feels like the suit will definitely last a very long time. I find that the amount of care and attention to detail that went into making this suit absolutely justified the price for the suit. Everything was so carefully considered to ensure the very best suit would be produced made this suit truly special (head lining to avoid glare, dual-coloured hand cuffs, swirly markings, colour choice, etc.). Everything fits perfectly and looks cohesive, and is consistent with the maker's style. I had very high expectations for this project, and Starcane somehow managed to go so far above and beyond. Components Head Wear SatisfactionThe head fits really well and is very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The interior is lined with neoprene (I think) and it feels both durable and soft, and the colour of the lining was chosen to avoid glare as much as possible to improve vision, which is a very nice touch and attention to detail. Air does not circulate much inside the head though, unless the muzzle is opened slightly or a portable neck fan is used. Vision is quite good overall as well (for fursuit standards, at least), which means it's still tricky to see directly in front and there's really no peripheral vision as is expected. It feels as good as it can be, given the constraints of a fursuit head. Visual SatisfactionI'm extremely satisfied with the overall look of the head, it seems perfectly symmetrical to me and exactly matches the character reference (besides the hair, but this was discussed and agreed upon before starting the project). Shaving feels even and natural, and transitions between furs is quite seamless.The fur feels great, it's very soft and easy to brush. The expression is perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better expression as the suit is both able to match the silly / cute as well as the sassy / mischievous expressions of the character with the sets of eyelids and tongue. One-Piece Body Wear SatisfactionThe body fits very well, it's perfectly tailored to me and is super comfortable. The padding around the hips does make it a bit difficult to bend over (for example to sit on the floor), though I feel like it's not something that could have been prevented, and movement is otherwise great. Seams feel solid, I've never felt like I needed to hold back from doing anything because I was worried I might pop a seam. The inside is not lined, though it is comfortable and there aren't any odd seams or threads disrupting the interior. The airflow feels pretty standard for fursuit standards. Visual SatisfactionI'm again extremely satisfied with the look of the body. It looks perfectly symmetrical and matches almost exactly with the character design (even if it features complicated and intricate swirly patterns, and the parts that didn't match were once again discussed beforehand). The shaving is even and there's nothing to complain about here. Just like the head, the body's fur feels great and is soft to the touch, also very easy to brush. I've not noticed any bleeding of colours when washing the suit as well (and I know the makers always test fur samples before using them to ensure this won't be an issue). I'm very satisfied with the colour selection and materials, and the makers were so helpful in letting me choose and showing colour nuances so that I was able to make the most informed decision possible when it came to colours. Once again, the body matches the reference almost perfectly, the only difference is the colour gradient / fade which is instead a flat colour. However of note, this was my decision for maintenance and longevity reasons, Starcane offered to airbrush the gradient and would have had no trouble making the body 100% accurate to the reference. Hands Wear SatisfactionThe hands fit perfectly, they're comfortable and exactly the right size. They feel durable and of very high quality, I have no issues with any movements and, so far, nothing has fallen off. However, it can be a bit tricky to put on the 4-finger hands without help, since there is obviously less dexterity with 4 fingers, though this is not an issue with the 5-finger paws. The interior is not lined. Visual SatisfactionThe hands look perfectly symmetrical, evenly shaved, and the fur feels great. The pads feel extremely nice and soft and squishy, they're made with so much attention to detail (Starcane went so far as to go for a dual coloured cuff on the hand to match the reference all the way through). The colours that were chosen match exactly with the reference and are great. The claws are plush and feel sturdy and like they won't fall off. Tail Wear SatisfactionThe tail fits well, although the belt loop holes in the body of the suit are maybe slightly low, but this hasn't been much of an issue for me. It feels really solid, and the anchors for the belt definitely aren't coming off. Visual SatisfactionThe tail looks perfectly symmetrical, the shaving is even, and it matches the reference. The fur feels amazing and it doesn't bleed when washed. The tail is able to wag if you sway your body slightly, which is what I expected, so I would say it's working great. Feet Wear SatisfactionThe feet fit perfectly, they're comfortable and exactly the right size. They feel durable and of very high quality, I have no issues with any movements. The feet go up high enough that the ankle remains hidden even when stretching. They're easy to put on, though since the padding is plush and the interior doesn't have a shell of sorts or a shoe, they can slip a bit during more intense activities (though Starcane does offer having feet with a shoe base as well). The interior is lined with neoprene which makes them easy to slide on and comfortable to wear for a long time. Visual SatisfactionThe feet look perfectly symmetrical, evenly shaved, and the fur feels great. The colours were again chosen to match the reference, and they do indeed match perfectly. RatingFursuitReview rates by asking the question: Would you recommend this maker? YES This review has been marked with a positive rating. This means the reviewer would recommend Starcane Arts. Final CommentsOverall, I can't recommend Starcane Arts enough. I've had such an amazing and delightful experience working with them. They're amazing makers that have the vision and creativity to bring any project to life, and they tackle complex projects with curiosity and enthusiasm. The attention to detail, the transparent process, and their passion towards their craft are just a few of the highlights, but overall there was just nothing negative about the whole process, or the suit itself. Are you the maker of this item? Would you like to leave an official response? Click here. In case the button above doesn't work, you can click here to launch the maker response form.
