Her Universe Debuts New Line at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends 2013

Press Release:

The Force is back at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park as Star Wars Weekends returns May 17th through June 9th. Fans from all over the world come to share their love of all things Star Wars and Disney during this special event. Returning for the fifth year in a row is actress Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and founder of the popular sci-fi merchandise line for fangirls, Her Universe™. As with previous years, Eckstein will be bringing an all-new, unique range of Star Wars by Her Universe designs to the month-long event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios including fashion tops, tunics, tanks and dresses located in Darth’s Mall. Eckstein will be meeting fans and signing autographs every day during the event and she will also be returning as host for Behind the Force: Star Wars Voices each weekend.

“As a lifelong Disney fan, it’s a dream come true for me to return to Disney’s Star Wars Weekends and debut my new Her Universe merchandise,” said Eckstein. “It’s been an honor to work with Disney to create designs for this event. We have an assortment of new items for female fans of all ages, including our new exclusive Return of the Jedi necklace in honor of the 30th Anniversary!”

Her Universe has only made 1,250 necklaces to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of this beloved movie. This extremely limited edition piece will come with an autographed certificate by Eckstein and will only be sold at select Her Universe events debuting at Star Wars Weekends. Only 500 necklaces will be available for sale at Disney starting on May 17th. They are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Also debuting at the event will be will the highly anticipated Rogue Squadron dress and X-Wing Pilot tank top. Other items premiering will be matching youth and adult R2-D2 tunic tops, an adorable youth Princess Leia tunic top, retro women’s fashion tops and a limited edition Asajj Ventress costume top.

Photo credit: – Kelsey Edwards Photography

About Her Universe
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC America for Doctor Who and with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Facebook (facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse).

About Disney’s Star Wars Weekends
Running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 17th through June 9th, Disney’s Star Wars Weekends is an annual event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park celebrating all things Star Wars. In addition to offering fans a unique opportunity to join Jedi Masters, Sith Lords and Star Wars celebrities for special shows, presentations, memorabilia and the all-new Star Tours attraction: Star Tours –The Adventures Continue. For more information on Star Wars Weekends, click here.

STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

This Return of the Jedi necklace honors the 30th Anniversary of the epic film. Her Universe has only made 1,250 necklaces to celebrate the anniversary.  This extremely limited edition piece will come with an autographed certificate by Eckstein and will only be sold at select Her Universe events and debuting at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends. Only 500 necklaces will be sold at Star WarsWeekends on a first come, first serve basis!

Perfect for spring and summer, this A-line Rogue Squadron dress features the Rebel Alliance symbol on the front and the title Rogue Squadron on the back!

Revisit the dark side in this retro tee featuring the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader! This is a recreation of a popular shirt back from the 80′s.

For the 30th Anniversary of Return of the Jedi we used this well-known design from the classic Han Solo Underoo’s set for kids from the 80′s on this new retro tee.

This gorgeous artwork featuring Padme Amidala is the perfect complement to our previous best-selling Her Universe Padme Nouveau shirt.

Pretend that you are a part of the Rogue Squadron in this colorful hooded racer-back tank. With the hoodie up, you’re ready to pilot an X-wing yourself!

 

Trained in the ways of the dark side, Asajj Ventress is a formidable adversary on The Clone Wars. Now you can wear this hooded tank based on the beloved female bounty hunter/assassin and show your dark side!
Everyone needs a classic Star Wars logo tee, but it’s even better when it’s tie dye! You’ll love this new fashion top, also available in plus sizes.
Any Padawan would be proud to wear this fun shirt exploding with the famousStar Wars phrase “May The Force Be With You.”
By popular demand, Ashley heard the requests to create a scaled down version of our popular adult Princess Leia hoodie for young girls. Now, here it is! Slip the hoodie on, buns and all, and you instantly become a self-rescuing princess!
Everyone’s favorite little droid comes to life in this ultra comfortable R2-D2 hooded tunic -available in both adult and youth sizes!
Everyone’s favorite little droid comes to life in this ultra comfortable R2-D2 hooded tunic -available in both adult and youth sizes!

Her Universe Brings Exclusive Dr. Who T-Shirt to Gallifrey One

Press Release:

Her Universe™ founder, and voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ashley Eckstein, will be appearing at the upcoming Doctor Who fan convention, Gallifrey One, the annual North American Doctor Who celebration, February 15th thru the 17th, at the Marriott Los Angeles Airport Hotel in Los Angeles, California. In addition, Eckstein will be bringing along the Her Universe booth filled with all the latest Her Universe Doctor Who fangirl apparel including an exclusive Doctor Who tee, limited to 300, featuring the art of renowned illustrator Russell Walks, only offered at the Gallifrey One 2013 convention. Eckstein will be meeting fans at the Her Universe booth and offering personal styling tips to fangirls throughout the weekend. In addition, she will be appearing on several panels and on stage for a discussion with fans.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to attend Gallifrey One,” said Ashley Eckstein. “It’s an exciting time to be a Doctor Who fan as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this iconic series. In honor of this special event, we are excited to be offering an exclusive design by Russell Walks! Russell and I will be at the Her Universe booth throughout the convention and we look forward to meeting fans throughout the weekend.

“I’m super-excited to be spending the weekend with Ashley and the Her Universe crew eating fish fingers & custard and talking about Doctor Who with the best fans in all of space and time,” said Russell Walks. “I’m also thrilled that ‘The Girl Who Waited’ design on which I worked so hard will finally be available for fans who love Amelia Pond as much as I do!”

About Her Universe
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC America for Doctor Who and with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Facebook (facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse).

About Gallifrey One 2013
The 24 Hours of Gallifrey One is in its 24th year and is the world’s largest and longest-running Doctor Who fan convention, celebrating the golden anniversary of Doctor Who this year. For more information on Gallifrey One 2013 go to www.gallifreyone.com

About Russell Walks
Although his original career goals included both becoming bionic and joining the rebellion against the Empire, Russell Walks eventually decided that his destiny lie along another path, and chose art school over adventure. Since beginning his career as a professional illustrator, Walks has created art based on licensed properties for a variety of clients, including Lucasfilm, Paramount, Warner Brothers, and Marvel. Walks is also a successful painter; his personal work has won both regional and national acclaim, and hangs in private collections throughout the world. Walks only recently discovered the “Whoniverse,” and is extremely excited to be attending his first Doctor Who convention.

Her Universe Introduces Everyday Cosplay

Press Release:

This Halloween, Geek Girls do not have to sacrifice fashion for a cheap costume they’ll wear only once. Actress Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and founder of the female sci-fi apparel line, Her Universe™, revealed today her line of fashionable costume hoodies, tops and a Hot Topic exclusive TARDIS dress dubbed “everyday cosplay” just in time for the Halloween season. Whether you’re a fan of Star Wars, Star Trekor Doctor Who, Her Universe has you covered to be the stylish one this fall and all year long. And now, until October 22nd (for guaranteed 10/31 delivery), Her Universe (www.heruniverse.com) is offering FREE GROUND SHIPPING on any order of $50.00 or more.

“I have a tub full of Halloween costumes that I have spent a lot of money on which I’ve only worn once,” said Eckstein. “My goal for our ‘everyday cosplay’ line is for girls to be able to wear these fashionable costumed looks on Halloween and all year round! I’ve always been a savvy shopper and I try to get the most for my money.”

New to the “everyday cosplay” line from Her Universe is the Star Trek Spock zip-up hoodie featuring the famous original series blue uniform top where fangirls, with the hood up, can be their favorite Vulcan, complete with pointy ears. Also new this fall season is the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Ahsoka Tano adult tunic top which complements the already released Ahsoka tunic for young girls and the very popular Princess Leia costume hoodie - perfect for any Halloween party or everyday wear. For female Whovians, Eckstein has collaborated with retailer Hot Topic to create Her Universe’s first

fashionably-fun, stylized dress based on Doctor Who’s beloved time-traveling TARDIS – available online NOW at Hot Topic and at Hot Topic retail stores. And what better way to accessorize all of these pieces than with the new Her Universe Star Wars Halloween Tote Bag featuring all-new original art by renowned artist Katie Cook – perfect for fans of any age for school, work, shopping and, of course, trick or treating! Katie’s very popular Her Universe Halloween Tote Bag sold out last year at record speed! The bags are only available for a limited time, so get them while supplies last.

“I was thrilled when Ashley asked me to do another Halloween bag design,” said Katie. “I’ll take any chance I get to draw Darth Vader in a silly costume! Ashley and I came up with the idea for this year’s bag at Celebration a few weeks ago and I couldn’t wait to come home and get started on it.”

All of these “everyday cosplay” pieces for Halloween and beyond can be found on heruniverse.com with the Doctor Who TARDIS dress available NOW online at Hot Topic and Hot Topic retail stores. Eckstein can be seen wearing many of the “everyday cosplay” pieces as co-host for MTV Geek’s coverage (mtv.com/geek/) of New York Comic Con October 11th-14th.

About Her Universe 
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Warsapparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC America for Doctor Who and with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Facebook(facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse).

About Katie Cook
Katie Cook is an illustrator and writer that lives in Michigan. She has done work for Lucasfilm, The Jim Henson Company, Marvel Comics and more. Her websites are www.katiecandraw.com and www.gronkcomic.com

Ultimate Clone Wars Cosplay

Press Release:

Actress Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on the popular Cartoon Network animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, had the ultimate cosplay experience recently when she dressed up in full make-up and costume as the Star Wars character she brings to life on the show. She documents her experience and the world of cosplay in a new blog she has written exclusively for CNN Geek Out! online and shares photos of the finished product.

Cosplay, short for “costumed play,” is the experience that thousands of fans participate in each year at conventions around the world where they dress up as their favorite character from a sci-fi or fantasy movie, TV show, anime, video game or book. It attracts both young and old alike.

Those outside the world of cosplay don’t always understand the attraction fans have for bringing their favorite characters to life, however, Ashley, in her CNN Geek Out! blog explains why she not only understands their passion and enjoyment but embraces it. She reveals that she has secretly wanted to dress up as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan learner, Ahsoka Tano, for years.

“As the voice of Ahsoka, I simply go into the recording studio and record my lines for the show,” Ashley relates in her CNN Geek Out! blog. “There is no need to ever dress up as the character because they only need our voices to bring the character to life. However, I am also a fan, and year after year I have been going to conventions seeing hundreds of girls dressed up as Ahsoka, secretly wishing I, too, could someday try on the costume. Well, with the help of my friends, my wish was granted, and I got to dress up as Ahsoka for the day!”

When not recording the voice of Ahsoka, Ashley oversees her company, Her Universe, which produces fashionable sci-fi apparel and accessories for fangirls. To see the latest releases in the line visit the Her Universe website. To read Ashley’s full cosplay blog and to see more photos of Ashley as Ahsoka Tano visit CNN Geek Out!

Photo credit: Preston Mack