AvantGarb

“The MillerCoors Can costumes look fantastic! They will work perfectly for our promotions. Thank you so much to you and your team. The end result is amazing!!!”

— Rachel Faires, Manager Partner Services, Portland Beavers
Nothing but love coming your direction from Cleveland.

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“Jennifer is superb to work with and turns out a quality product at a fair price and in a timely manner! Plus, she’s lots of fun!”

— Amy Stanley - RocheDiagnostics
“I have never had more fun and been more pleased with a vendor than with Jennifer. When we are ready for our next step, we will definately be using Jennifer and her staff, no question about it.”

— Barry Hardy for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr: for Kids
“Jennifer is a great partner. She has built a terrific mascot for us. She was willing to amend any requests for change with no issues. Every phone call was fun and wacky yet productive…just how I like to do business.”

— Andy Ruge - George Mason University
Jennifer and the rest of her “groovy” staff at AvantGarb have been a pleasure to work with over the years. The quality, and service that goes with it can’t be matched in the industry. Much love from Grand Rapids!

— Rich Meyers - Director of Game Ops - Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
“Ten years ago we searched for someone who could produce a high-quality, fun mascot. The first TiVoGuy was born and 4 generations later, he (and his newer relatives) are still bringing joy to TV fans everywhere. Nobody does smiles better than AvantGarb!”

— Bard Williams, Director, Marketing, TiVo Inc.
If you want your mascot to come to life – only go with the best mascot creators in the business – Avant Garb!

— Jeff Walrich - Director of Athletics - Gilmour Academy
We love the tattoos, and the fans do too!

— Sir C.C. - Cleveland Cavs

With a Custom Mascot Costume, you create a Brand Awareness Monster!

Does your strategic marketing campaign need some LIFE? Are your potential customers overlooking print and other media? Revitalize your efforts – mix in a Mascot Costume!

We deliver more than a costume in a box – we make your brand come alive!

Today’s sports marketers realize that a strategically designed and integrated mascot (a true character brand) is more than a diversion during lulls in a game, an attraction in itself. Most colleges and professional teams have adopted costumed mascots to patrol the stands and make community appearances.

Griff – The Grand Rapids Griffins Mascot – It Started with the Feet

Griff – Griffins Hockey

The Beginning

Our relationship with the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey began with the feet. Griff’s mascot feet were old and tired, and the performer wasn’t happy. He got in touch with AvantGarb.

We made the Griff new feet and the performer was very happy with the feet. We gained a wonderful client.

Mascot Feet

At our mascot studio, we have spent hours fine-tuning the inner structure of the mascot foot. Next to sculpting and building the head, making feet/shoe/boots for a mascot is the most complex. There are buckles and straps and foam and leather and soles that have to be cut and there are doohickies and various types of elastic and webbing and something called “cloud”,

Soon we were building the whole Griff mascot from the wispy head feathers to the silver wings and…. the feet!

The Griffin is a mythological character. He is part eagle, part lion. This means we got to make wonderful silver wings put hints of feathers on the Griff’s head and give the guy really furry leg and feet. The Griff is the King of the Beast and the King of the birds, so we muscled him up a bit too.

Professional Mascot Makers

For us, muscles are foam, foam, foam, foam. All of that foam is covered in athletic mesh. We use a foam that is designed to have water flow through it —-so its washable and it is tough.

The Griffins were our first introduction to the world of hockey. We’re big fans.

© Jennifer Smith 2014

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