Made by Neon Cowboys
LED Harness
One adjustable size (34–44 in chest) with LEDs you set to any color or pattern by remote.
$225 USD
For prop masters and costume designers on a TV series: we design and build light-up wardrobe, hand props and set pieces, with matched multiples so the finale glows like the pilot. Colors are set by remote and packs hide in the costume. Email info@neoncowboys.com with “Production inquiry” in the subject for a quote.
What does a TV series need from a light-up prop maker?
A series is not one shoot. A lit costume or hand prop has to look the same in the pilot, in episode six and in a pickup shot months later, on the lead, the stunt double and the stand-in. That is what we build for: custom light-up wardrobe, hand props made from scratch (glowing devices, crowns, helmets), light-up set pieces, and matched multiples of our own pieces in your colors.
Neon Cowboys is a designer-led light-up fashion house founded in 2014 by Asia Hall, a computer science graduate and the daughter of couturier Kevan Hall. We design the light and the piece together. The LEDs are built into the piece, the color is set by remote, and rechargeable packs hide inside the costume or prop, so nothing gets taped on the night before a block starts.
Light is a continuity item
Treat the glow like a wound, a hairline or a coffee cup: it goes in the continuity notes. Log the color, the pattern and the brightness of every lit piece in every scene. Our remote-controlled pieces can hold a single solid color and turn brightness up or down, so anyone on set can match the last take from the notes.
Television has shown how much a light can carry. In the first season of Stranger Things, Joyce Byers writes the alphabet on her wall and strings Christmas lights above each letter to reach her son (source: Fox Business). When light is part of the story, every bulb has to behave the same way each time the scene comes back. On Doctor Who, prop maker Nick Robatto of Rubbertoe Replicas had made the on-screen version of every sonic screwdriver since the show’s relaunch by 2014, and the company’s replica uses a working LED made the same way as the screen-used prop (source: downthetubes). One maker and one build method across seasons is how a lit hand prop stays consistent.
Hero, stunt and background versions for a series
Most lit pieces on a series need more than one build. This is how we plan a set with the prop and costume departments:
| Version | Where it works | What we build | Light behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | Close-ups, inserts, the reveal | Full detail and working LEDs | Programmed to the scene, color by remote |
| Stunt | Fights, falls, running | A softer build matched to the hero’s look | Simple, or off if the action needs it |
| Background (BG) | Wide shots, crowds, ensembles | Same silhouette and color, less detail | One solid color |
| Doubles | Stand-ins, second unit, reshoots | Matched copies of the hero | The same logged settings |
| Spares | A piece fails mid-block | An extra of the piece that works hardest | The same logged settings |
Tell us how many of each you need per character and per block of episodes. We quote the set together, so the hero and its doubles come from the same build.
How many multiples should a series order?
Count characters, then versions, then blocks. A recurring club set with six dancers in lit wardrobe needs six matched pieces, a double for any dancer with a stunt, and one or two spares that stay charged on the cart. A lead with a lit hand prop needs the hero, a stunt version for the action and a spare for the day the hero goes in for a fix.
Multiples are work we already do. For Missy Elliott we made her hat plus 20 matching hats for her dancers, and we’ve outfitted Beyoncé’s dancers on tour. An ensemble on a stage night after night is the same problem as an ensemble across a season: every piece has to match the one beside it.
Made by Neon Cowboys
LED Fringe Sequin Dress
A fringe sequin dress with LEDs you switch between colors and light modes with the included remote.
$249 USD
Charging, care and spares between episodes
Series wardrobe gets worn for long days, block after block. Plan for that on day one:
- Charge on a schedule. Our packs are rechargeable. Label one pack per character and charge every pack overnight.
- Hide the pack where wardrobe can reach it. We place packs inside the costume or prop, where a costumer can get to them between setups.
- Clean the way the piece asks. On our harnesses, remove the power bank first, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- Order spares up front. Do not count on a repair in the middle of a block. A charged spare on the cart saves the day.
Send your block schedule with your shoot date, and we will tell you plainly what fits.
Made by Neon Cowboys
LED Fringe Sequin Jacket
A lit layer for a recurring party or concert set
$345 USD
How our pieces read on camera
A lit piece in the shot is a practical: a light source the camera sees. That gives your DP and gaffer something to work with and something to plan around, because the piece throws color onto skin, sets and the wardrobe beside it. On our programmable LED harness and fringe jacket, brightness comes down by remote when a piece reads too hot next to a face.
Our pieces have been filmed for major brand campaigns: Apple used a Neon Cowboys LED cowboy hat to show off the iPhone 13’s Night mode low-light photography, and Google featured our Out Past Midnight boots in a Google Lens commercial and on six-story billboards. Every camera package and lighting setup is different, so talk to us about your camera and lighting plan before we build.
Request a production quote
Email info@neoncowboys.com with “Production inquiry” in the subject line, and send:
- Script pages or a mood board for every scene with light
- How many hero, stunt and background (BG) pieces you need, per character
- Cast sizes, including doubles and stand-ins
- Colors, and any color change inside a scene
- Your shoot date and your block schedule
- Your camera and lighting plan
Send us your shoot date and we will tell you plainly what fits. Every piece is sold to the production and quoted, so it stays with you for reshoots and pickups. For brand and agency work, see brand partnerships; for stage and touring work, see performers and production companies. See custom light-up props and LED wardrobe for film and TV, and our guides to light-up props for commercials and light-up theater and stage props.
What do customers say about the LED Fringe Sequin Dress?
The LED Fringe Sequin Dress holds a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 11 customer reviews. A few of them, unedited:
“Obsessed! So beautiful and a perfect fit!”
— Bia P.
“Fantastic dress! Wonderful way to light up my performances. I’m in love!”
— Jessica C.
“As a bigger chested girl soooo happy with the busy area. The sequins are also sewed on really well and gove very good quality/construction”
— Kéren A.
Frequently asked questions
Do you make light-up props for TV series?
Yes. We design and build custom light-up wardrobe, hand props and set pieces for productions, plus matched multiples of our own pieces in your colors. Every job is quoted.
Can you match doubles to the hero piece?
Yes. We build the hero and its doubles together, from the same design, so the stunt double, the stand-in and second unit match the lead.
Can the production keep the pieces for later seasons?
Yes. We sell every piece outright, so it stays with the production for reshoots, pickups and the next season.
How long does a custom build take?
It depends on the piece and the count. Send us your shoot date and we will tell you plainly what fits.
How are the lights controlled?
The LEDs are built into the piece, color is set by remote, and many pieces run programmable patterns. Rechargeable packs hide inside the costume or prop.
Will the lights read on camera?
Our pieces were filmed for Apple’s iPhone 13 Night mode campaign and Google’s commercials. Talk to us about your camera and lighting plan so we can build to it.
See also: custom light-up props and LED wardrobe for film and TV, commercial props for brand campaigns and theater and stage props.
Sources: Fox Business, downthetubes.
The films, TV series, studios, designers and prop makers named here are industry references only. None is affiliated with Neon Cowboys or has worked with us.
Questions: info@neoncowboys.com.
