How to replicate these leaves for my Namor headdress?

[IronManiac]

Hello all! I'm brainstorming for ideas on how to replicate the kelp leaves on the Namor headdress from Wakanda Forever. I've already created the headdress with EVA foam, (its the first photo below), and while i'm really happy with it, I think I can do better on the leaves that surround the back. They're supposed to be kelp leaves, which makes sense since Namor's kingdom of Talokan is on the ocean floor. For my own cosplay, I used fake plant leaves that I painted and sealed with a gloss clear. But all these leaves added a fair bit of weight to the rear, which makes it hard on my neck and difficult to balance front to back. They also don't have that translucent look that lets light pass through like the one from the movie.

So i'm looking for advice on how best to replicate those leaves from anyone who knows more about plastics than me. The plastic needs to be thin enough that they save weight and give me that translucent look, but also strong enough to stand up on their own while also having a slight bend to give them a more natural look. They also need to be paintable, or maybe dye the plastic? Any ideas on a good plastic to use?

You can also see from the supplied close up shots that the leaves have like a 'brainy' texture on them. Any ideas on how to imprint that texture into a clear plastic would be great too. Maybe a CNC'd negative that the plastic can be heated and pressed into? Or some other way?

Save weight. Translucent. Paint or dye-able. Brainy texture. Give me your knowledge you awesome nerds!