COMPANY HISTORY
Marylen started making walk-around mascot parade heads for local costume shops in southern California in 1960. At the time, Walt Disney was creating his cartoon characters in costume. This type of costume was very much in demand and no one was making them. Marylen sculpted molds and created her first animal heads on the kitchen table in La Habra, California.
Marylen was invited to attend a costume industry show in Hollywood to display her creations. It was there she met costumers who worked in the motion picture industry. Her talent was immediately recognized. Marylen was hired by many to create walk around costumes and armor collections.
In the 1970’s Marylen was making walk-around costumes for large costume houses and rental shops across the country. From the beginning, Marylen Costume Designs became the most popular on the market.
Marylen is a pioneer in the animal mascot costume industry. Her original construction techniques are still used today. She is the original designer of the Madcap Menagerie, Potpourri Collection, Mascot Mania and Dapper Dudes. Her original designs have been “knocked-off” many times.
Today, we offer over 2,500 designs here in our online catalog. All costumes are custom hand made in the USA and are the highest quality on the market.
Honoring the Tradition
In early 2025, Alinco Costumes Incorporated acquired Marylen’s. The original creator of Marylen’s Costumes, Marylen herself, retired some years ago after building a beloved brand known for quality and creativity. Her daughter Linda continued that tradition with the same care and dedication. Now, as Linda enters retirement, her priority was ensuring the brand’s esteemed quality and reputation—cultivated over more than half a century—would endure.
She found the ideal successor in Alinco Costumes, another leading mascot and costume manufacturer. This three-generation company, established in 1889, is celebrated for its commitment to quality and innovation and is honored to join forces with Marylen’s.
Though once competitors, Alinco and Marylen’s were also longtime partners—Alinco was a proud client of Marylen’s, reselling many of its original designs over the years. That spirit of mutual respect makes this new chapter especially meaningful.
Alinco plans to preserve as much as possible the same production techniques, look and feel, and enduring quality that Marylen’s is so well known for.