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
