I don’t think we talk enough about what is considered “normal things to expect when wearing a fursuit”, and why I think it’s important to learn a few basics maintenance things on your own, to prolong the life of your suit and minimize your stress and frustration levels. Now, wear and tear is a thing. Is it normalt that your fursuit can get holes, popped seams, things falling off? Yes, it is. But before you start yelling hear me out. Like with any other piece of clothing, the more you wear an item, use it, wash it, move around it it, stretch the seams etc, there will eventually come a time when something breaks. It can be a popped seam, a nose or claw that fallen off when stuck or you bumped your head into something (or someone bumped into you). It’s totally normal and not something you should be afraid of. It’s easily fixable and I would advice you to learn a few basic stitches and own a glue gun and some hot glue, most of these things can easily be fixed by yourself. Things like zippers can be more tricky, especially if some of the teeth has broken but if it’s something major I would argue any fursuitmaker with respect for themselves will offer to help or at the very least point you in a direction of someone who may be able to. Now, I am NOT saying that popped seams and holes and things falling off should be the excuse of poor craftsmanship. If your suit literally falls apart the moment you take it out of the box or put it on for the first time that’s not what I’m referring to here, and that should obviously not happen. However, if your an active suiter who moves around a lot, roll on the floor, bend over things, pick things up, in general just enjoy your product as it was intended you will most likely experience a small hole appearing somewhere during your time owning the suit. This does not mean the suit is bad quality. However, learning yourself simple stitches like a carpet stitch or a muppet stitch (you can look up video tutorials on YouTube) you can easily fix these things quickly and painlessly. How you care for your suit in general will also determine its lifespan. The age of the suit in itself isn’t an indicator of quality alone. How often you use it, how often you wash it (you should clean your suit but also remember the more often you wash it the quicker you wear the fibers down). Brushing your suit is also important but remember that fur you brush out doesn’t grow back out. Bald spots may occur with time and excessive brushing, however please brush your suits, also the face because an y brushed suit just makes the fur mat and clump which in term makes the fur clump the dirt into the fibers. What I’m trying to say is: enjoy your suits. They are way less fragile than a lot of people think but at the same time Understand that how you use it and how you maintain it also plays a part on how long it will last and how often it will need a repair. Don’t be afraid of a popped seam or a claw falling out. It’s more normal than you might think. Learn basic sewing techniques and go out there and enjoy your suit!