Columbia Unveils New Jacket Inspired By Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Columbia Sportswear has unveiled a Star Wars™: Empire Crew Parka – a limited edition jacket inspired by the original cast and crew while filming the iconic ice planet Hoth scenes of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The themed jackets will be available on columbia.com/StarWars starting at 12:01am EST on Dec. 7 and in-store at select Columbia-branded retail locations in the U.S., Canada, Europe, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. This limited edition parka is a unisex style that will be sold for $500 USD, while supplies last.
Select U.S. stores are also carrying a handful of parkas signed by Mark Hamill, the actor who played Luke Skywalker in the film. Fans can purchase a signed jacket for $1980 USD, and all proceeds of that sale will be donated to charity.
Be a Part of Star Wars History
Nearly 40 years ago in the frigid wilderness of Norway, a small group of cast and crew filmed several of the most recognizable scenes from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. They needed serious winter gear to help protect them from icy winds, whiteout blizzards and sub-zero temperatures encountered on location while filming the iconic Hoth scenes. To help address the weather-related challenges, producers arranged for each member of the Norway team to receive outerwear that included a colorful insulated parka for the multi-week shoot. Created to stand up to the cold conditions, that jacket features a unique design that currently make it one of the most sought-after items among Star Wars collectors. Only a handful of those original jackets exist today, but now fans can go behind rebel lines—and deep behind-the-scenes—with Columbia’s limited edition Star Wars™: Empire Crew Parka.
A Vintage Look Featuring Modern Technology
The Star Wars™: Empire Crew Parka honors the original design while incorporating Columbia’s weather-defying technologies to help protect against extreme winter conditions. The waterproof, breathable and critically seam-sealed outer layer acts like the Echo Base shield generator to protect against the elements, while the Omni-Heat™ thermal-reflective lining and insulation will keep you as warm as a Wookiee. The jacket features a removable, adjustable hood with removable faux-fur trim, two-way collar, ribbed comfort cuffs, wrist zips and multifunctional pockets.
Columbia’s designers worked closely with Lucasfilm Ltd. to capture and incorporate authentic details from the crew jackets that include the bold blue design, shoulder stripes for heightened visibility in blizzard conditions, the fiery Darth Vader chest patch developed using original artwork, Star Wars logos, and a customizable name plate on the chest pocket. Paying homage to the location where the cast and crew braved chilling temperatures to film these historic scenes, the lining of the jacket includes the coordinates of the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier in Norway.
Fans interested in taking this experience to the next galaxy – or level – can purchase one of only 30 jackets signed by Luke Skywalker actor, Mark Hamill. Columbia is working with Mark Hamill to raise money for education initiatives that are very close to him. These signed jackets will sell for MSRP of $1,980 USD – a nod to the film’s release year – with all proceeds going to college access programs and scholarships. These coveted signed jackets will be sold only at Columbia-branded retail locations in New York, NY; Buena Vista, FL; Downtown Portland Flagship, OR; and Seattle, WA.