Club Jade

Most of the Marc Ecko Star Wars stuff is on sale. Which pretty much means it’s now priced like normal clothes.

This can’t be good for anyone’s pocketbook, but hey: They’re both cheaper and (slightly?) more socially acceptable than most of those fancy collectibles. Above, Fett and Stormtrooper hoodies: Gizmodo has a discount code.

This time it’s the New York Times, checking out his new store in Chelsea. A brief paragraph addresses the Star Wars line:

He is also obsessed with “Star Wars” and somehow wrangled a licensing deal with the franchise. A white T-shirt has a storm trooper head rendered beautifully in little appliquéd crystals, while a likeness of Yoda in green dots on a brown T-shirt looks warty and nauseating. Mr. Ecko lovingly explains his fetish in a long paragraph printed on the back inside collar: “It’s no secret I am a fan of all things Star Wars,” it reads. “Just when I am getting pop culture fatigue, I watch Star Wars.”

In other merchandise news, StarWars.com features another line of t-shirts and a new Sideshow farmboy Luke.

George Lucas still is still raking in the cash – He’s #1 on Forbes’ list of the Biggest Celebrity Paydays of 2007 for Hasbro’s $200 million stock buy back.

Also…

• Speaking of bling, UK rocker shells out £8,000 for replicas of R2-D2 and C-3PO.

• The Marc Ecko line is getting coverage again. I suppose that means it’s hitting (still in?) stores.
• Collector Don Frisque profiled.
• Star Wars’ 30th is memorable for The Naperville Sun.
• Geekdad reviews Legacy.
• Gossip alert: Carrie Fisher dating Salman Rushdie?

It pales in comparison to the news of the week, but Mark Hamill is one of Times Online’s 33 funniest Simpson’s cameos for Mayored to the Mob, the episode that features the classic ‘Luke be a Jedi Tonight’ The only clip I can find of it on Youtube is mostly dubbed in Spanish. Except for the song. Okay!

In the News

• LFL’s $5.8 million a year Presidio rent helps with upkeep of the national park

• The Marc Ecko line gets some press in USA Today
• IGN interviews Breckin Meyer about Robot Chicken. Lots of Star Wars special stuff, mostly on the second page.
• Report on James Earl Jones’ Declaration of Independence reading
• Claudia Kaven, who played Padme’s sister Sola Naberrie in the prequels, landed a lead in Daybreakers, a futuristic vampire flick.

From the Blogside

• AT-AT stroller dad at it again. More pictures!

• What would Chewbacca drive?
• Darth Vader doesn’t want an iPhone – he wants this phone.

Fandom doings

• Star Wars Egg Art. Well… it’s… um… different.

• Costumed fans pitching in at Wings Over The Rockies Air Museum next week.
• There’s a post-Star Wars void? No one told us!

TOS interviews fashion designer Marc Ecko about his Star Wars threads.

Rick McCallum received an award at the European Digital Cinema and HDTV conference in Spain, and, according to the guy who wrote TFN showed a preview of 3-D Star Wars to the crowd.

Meanwhile, Lightsabre posted the second part of their McCallum interview, including some interesting insights on George and the prequels.

Busy day in these parts

• Marc Ecko Star Wars fashions

• James Earl Jones to recite U.S. Declaration of Independence (via TOSblog)
• Celebration Europe: The Force Unleashed is going, as well as yet more guests.

Fandom

• Collector Jason Gibner featured in Metro Time Detroit’s Motor City Cribs.

• In that vein: “How To Display This Star Wars Collection (and keep the boyfriend)?” at Apartment Therapy.
• Star Wars holiday for the kids. Why not?
• Fan donates hair to play Luke Skywalker on parade float.
• 11-year-old fencer inspired by Star Wars
• 501st TIE makes debut
• Another international Star Wars convention – Poland’s Dagobah 2007