Modified martial arts tunics?

The other day, I was playing with my old Tae Kwon Do uniform and I got to thinking what interesting Jedi garb it might make. At first it started off simple- just make a matching white sash and tabards, and there's a great loaner Jedi costume that some of my friends could use if I ever got a clan of us together.

But then the idea evolved. Take the TKD uniform, and modify the thing. FYI, a tae kwon do top differs from standard karate or judo uniforms, in the sense that it's not a wraparound top. It's got the stand-up collar, but said collar doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the garment, instead ending in a sort of V-neck style. What I was thinking was something like this:
Get a TKD uniform top (cheap from martial arts supply sites), and cut it off at the waist, where a sash will cover up this new seamline. Then sew on longer front and back pieces that go all the way down to the ankle, made of matching fabric (pantweight cotton). End result? A long sleeved tunic with openings up the sides instead of at the front. Worn with tabards and sash, it would look similar to traditional Jedi attire, but also unique. I'll try and post a sketch a bit later to show what I mean.

I'm wondering something though. I know that just buying a martial arts uniform and passing it off as Jedi robes is not allowed by groups like Rebel Legion. But would an extensively modified tunic be permitted as PART of the whole kit?

 

I'm sure a little dye here and there wouldn't hurt either.

 

I was thinking I might leave the thing pure white, have matching white tabards and everything..a little bit like Atris from KOTOR II, but different. I've even got a pure white wig somewhere. Only thing is, the white wig looks a little odd with my olive complexion.
I guess that's what rice powder's for.

Either that or I could get a black tunic and go dark Jedi- I always hated the dark jedi costumes in KOTOR 1 and Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy- what the heck is up with the codpieces? Certainly not flattering for females, that's for sure.

 

That's how I made mine. I had a black one though..get a century martial arts gear book and you can buy any color...any style. and if you wanted a uniform like Obi-Wan's get some beige dye. I did that with my other. and for like the leather like things on Anakin's and the beige cloth on Obi-Wan's..go to a local wal-Mart and look around there...and then go and get a matching pair of boots. I'd put a picture of what mine looks like on here, but my camera's broke. once I get it fixed..I'll loadd it...hope I helped.

*-*-*ROCK ON!*-*-*

 

I find that if I have to modify the heck out of something to make it work for a costume it's just not worth it. Most finished garments cost more than the fabric would take to make it.
For making a Jedi, the amount of time it takes to make an existing garment look sort of right, you could have scratch made a proper costume.

If you want to know what is required for a Jedi Costume for the Rebel Legion, then go straight to the RL list:
http://www.rebellegion.com/forum/display_forum_topics.asp?ForumID=21

FYI: example of a good costume to mod from "real" clothing: Rebel Fleet trooper, there are only a couple of mods required for cloth parts. http://www.rebellegion.com/forum/display_forum_topics.asp?ForumID=22

 

For your basic, Old Republic Jedi tunic, you'd really need to dye the gi since they only wear brown tones (except for the odd white undertunic or pants). But white would be fine for an EU costume.

The things that make a gi look less like a Jedi tunic to me (and should be changed) are:

-- the extra stitching on the collar
-- the slit side seams
-- the sleeves are often too short

But with all the modifications you've mentioned, it really sounds like it would just be better to make a pattern from the gi and make the whole costume from scratch. Finding fabric that matches is not always easy.

 

I was thinking of doing a pure white Atris- style outfit, which would be interesting. Didn't Obi-wan wear white in episode 1?
As for matching fabric, it's not too hard to find white cotton in the weight I need, since my local fabric store carries it as a staple. I'm purposely going for a custom look with this idea here, slightly different than the standard uniform, but not too far from it. I've already done one "normal" Jedi, check out the links I posted in the "Jedi costume pricing" thread.