It is both, some things you can buy and some things you have to build yourself. I think he has always done his own costumes. I've seen him as Quasar, Vision, Archangel, Ronan the Accuser, Sentry and some others. A lot of dedication. Now he is getting commissions to do costumes for other cosplayers.
Here's some of his early cosplays all his original costume creations.