Paul Smith, an engineer from East Lothian, has become an expert in creating Chewbacca costumes, which he wears to conventions across the UK. Smith spends 300 hours making each costume and requires dozens of bags of hair extensions and a friend to sew a mesh suit using his measurements. He then sources the required kit to make the Chewbacca head and seeks out special leather bags to complete the look. Paul has built six Wookiees costumes in his collection, including three different versions of Chewbacca to match each of the Star Wars movies.
Smith is a self-confessed geek who spends thousands of pounds perfecting his costumes. His efforts have paid off, being invited to attend red carpet events at the European premieres of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in London. His dedication extends to his posture, stating that his costumes help him keep upright and improve his posture.
In addition to his Chewbacca collection, Smith also has an animatronic Iron Man suit, a Predator outfit from Alien, and a Mandalorian costume. Smith is passionate about cosplaying and attends 80-90 conventions a year. He belongs to groups of volunteers who help raise money for charity, such as the UK Rebel Legion, Imperial Scottish Garrison, and Fifth Legion.
This weekend, Smith will attend the Capital Sci-Fi Con alongside other actors from various science-fiction endeavours. The event is run by the charity Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (Chas) and has raised £370,000 over the past nine years. Head of community fundraising and retail at Chas Laura Campbell called Smith and his fellow cosplayers “inspirational”, thanking them for bringing joy to families and sci-fi fans
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