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Columbia Officially Unveils New The Empire Strikes Back Crew Jacket

STAR WARS EMPIRE™ CREW PARKA

Last week we shared with you news of a new Columbia jacket based on the look of Star Wars. Now Columbia Sportswear has officially unveiled the jacket and given a release date and price.

Check out the press release below for all of the details.

Columbia Goes Behind-The-Scenes and Unveils New Jacket Inspired by Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Limited Edition “Star Wars: Empire Crew Parka” launches on Dec. 7

Portland, Oregon – Dec. 3, 2018 – Columbia Sportswear is unveiling the 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 here starting at 5 am GMT 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, while supplies last.

STAR WARS EMPIRE™ CREW PARKA
STAR WARS EMPIRE™
CREW PARKA

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 keep them protected from icy winds, whiteout blizzards and sub-zero temperatures they encountered 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.

New Columbia Star Wars Jacket Coming Soon!

Columbia Star Wars Countdown Clock

If you are fan of Star Wars clothing, you may want to be at your favorite Columbia store in a few days to snag a new upcoming jacket. Columbia’s official website has a countdown clock that as of this writing is sitting at 11 days, that look to be counting down to the release of a new Star Wars themed coat. If you recall, the company had a similar looking countdown clock last year for their previous Star Wars jacket releases.

The background of the countdown clock is the ice planet Hoth, leading us to believe that the coat will be inspired by Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. If you sit and watch the image long enough, you will start to see these one second image bursts, that gives you tease of what the new jacket looks like (see below).

Columbia Star Wars Jacket Tease
Columbia Star Wars Jacket Tease
Columbia Star Wars Jacket Tease
Columbia Star Wars Jacket Tease

Looking at these pictures and then looking at a scene being filmed of Han cutting open at tauntaun on Hoth, and you can see that the above coat is based on the coats worn by the crew on the set of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Filming of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Filming of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Currently there is no word on just how exclusive these will be, or the price of the upcoming coats. Stay tuned to Outer Rim News, and we will give you all the details when available.

About Columbia Sportswear Company:

For more than 80 years, Columbia Sportswear Company has been making gear for people who enjoy the outdoors in the Pacific Northwest and far beyond. Chairman Gert Boyle has been at the helm for nearly 50 of those years and her Tough Mother persona helped grow Columbia into the global sportswear brand it is today. They’re still based in Portland, Oregon and still making no-nonsense apparel, footwear, and accessories to keep you warm, dry, cool, and protected no matter what. Their innovative gear, Pacific Northwest heritage, irreverent spirit, and family business ethos is what sets them apart.