Her Universe is bringing a whole new Star Wars collection to Chicago

Her Universe is launching a capsule collection for Celebration Chicago called “Sisters of the Force,” featuring items inspired by several Star Wars women. (And they’re bringing back one of their originals, the “Padmé nouveau” tee.) Ashley Eckstein talks to StarWars.com about the inspiration behind each piece, or check out the gallery under the cut.

Continue reading “Her Universe is bringing a whole new Star Wars collection to Chicago”

Celebration Chicago: Guest list gets even longer with Mayhew, Eckstein

Since we last checked in with Celebration Chicago, they’ve added even more guests, including OG Chewbacca Peter Mayhew, The Clone Wars/Rebels and Her Universe head Ashley Eckstein, and lots and lots of others. From the films, there’s Temuera Morrison, Daniel Logan, Ken Leung, John Ratzenberger and Katy Kartwheel. Animation guests Donald Faison, Jason Isaacs, Vanessa Marshall, Myrna Velasco, Tom Kane, Catherine Taber and Dee Bradley Baker.

→ We’ve also got the full list for the Podcast Stage, which seems longer this year. Did any of your faves make it?

→ Some tips from Jennifer Landa on perfecting your costume for the con.

→ And on that note, tickets for the big fan club party (The 501st, Rebel Legion, Mandalorian Mercs, the Dark Empire, Droid Builders, Saber Guild and Galactic Academy are all involved) are now on sale to the public at SWBash.com.

Forces of Destiny is back on March 19

Disney has announced that we can expect the next set of Forces of Destiny shorts on Monday, March 19. All eight new episodes will debut at 10:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. ET) on Disney’s Youtube and Disney.com. The special will air on the Disney Channel the following Monday (March 25) at 9:50 p.m. ET/PT.

Voices include Mark Hamill (Luke), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose), Tiya Sircar (Sabine), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka), Vanessa Marshall (Hera), Catherine Taber (Padmé) and Matt Lanter (Anakin).

Titles, descriptions, and images in a gallery under the cut. Continue reading “Forces of Destiny is back on March 19”

Her Universe, Disney launch Our Universe

Her Universe and Disney are expanding their merchandise partnership, the companies announced today. The new deal includes an athleisure line for kids and tweens called “Our Universe.” It debuts with Black Panther and Disney Princess products, with Star Wars additions coming soon. The products will be avaliable exclusively through shopDisney.com and at Disney Store locations.

There’s also a book by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein, It’s Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make It Happen. It’s available for preorder now, and you can read an excerpt at Entertainment Weekly.

New “micro-short” series Forces of Destiny to highlight the women of Star Wars

Announced overnight, just ahead of the official opening of Celebration Orlando, is Forces of Destiny, a new series of animated shorts highlighting Rey, Jyn Erso, Sabine Wren, Leia Organa, Ahsoka Tano and more.


The series will launch in July on the Disney Youtube, with additional shorts debuting on the Disney Channel in the fall. Daisy Ridley, Felicity Jones, Tiya Sircar, Ashley Eckstein and Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata) are among those returning to voice their characters.

The series will also have book and action figure tie-ins. We’ll learn more later Friday at the “Heroines of Star Wars” panel here in Orlando.

Del Rey’s 40th Anniversary offering is a new anthology

Del Rey will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of A New Hope with From a Certain Point of View, a new anthology that will feature 40 stories from the viewpoints of the movie’s minor characters.

Coming in October in an oversized hardcover, the anthology will feature more than 40 authors, including both established Star Wars writers (Chuck Wendig, John Jackson Miller, Gary Whitta) and those new to the franchise (Meg Cabot, Ken Liu, Nnedi Okorafor.) All the authors are donating their proceeds to the charity First Book.

The book will be out in October and is available for preorder now.

Her Universe returns with new website

Her Universe’s new website is up, and it’s just one of the changes coming to the brand following their acquisition by Hot Topic. There are some new products, but new collections are coming “in the summer” – though Ashley Eckstein mentioned new stuff coming for Celebration in April. A cheaper shipping rate, more consistent sizing and even (in some cases) international shipping is coming. You can read Ashley’s letter or check out her Facebook Live video (or watch the Youtube version below) for more details.

Wear Star Wars Every Day: Week 47 & Cyber Monday bonus!

november-prize-drawing-2

Celebrating Thanksgiving is what #WearStarWarsEveryDay is all about for Week 47! But more importantly, we have a special offer in our Thanks-for-giving prize drawing! If you donate to Collateral Repair Project via GoFundMe today, Cyber Monday, or tomorrow, Giving Tuesday, I will double your chances of winning a prize in the prize drawing! We have seven different prize packages to give away, including a set of four Topps Star Wars trading card series books, some of which are signed, a copy of Ahsoka signed by both the author E.K. Johnston and audiobook narrator Ashley Eckstein, and an advance uncorrected proof of Maul: Lockdown by Joe Schreiber. Just chip in $20 or more, and you’ll be entered into the prize drawings with double odds! Not even a Corellian gambler can give up those chances to win! (Especially since so few donations have been made, you’re practically guaranteed to win something!) All persons making donations through the end of November will be eligible for the different prize drawings, but your chances are doubled if you donate on 11/28 or 11/29!

week-47-title-card

Back to week 47: I wear a variety of shirts, including an Adidas soccer jersey, and a Disney Cast Member exclusive stormtrooper helmet schematic tee. For this stretch of my fundraising campaign for Collateral Repair Project, we give thanks for a bunch of fine folks who lent me some wear this week, including Dani, Lori, Russell, and Trina. Plus a shirt I bought as a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish through the 501st Legion, so now it’s doing double duty! But sadly no donations in this time frame – makes for a sad turkey!

Every day I wear a new and different Star Wars apparel item, my daily pledge makers will chip in $4.65 to Collateral Repair Project! This review for Week 47 covers November 18 to November 24 of my wearathon, and an update on fundraising for and the latest happenings at Collateral Repair Project, a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance, education, and community support to urban refugees.

Get more info on what Wear Star Wars Every Day is all about, or make a donation via GoFundMe or a per-day pledge.