Those Awesome EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Production Crew Parkas Have Been Recreated by Columbia!
The first time I saw the production crew of Empire Strikes Back wearing these parkas, I wanted one! I always thought that they were so damn cool!
Well, thanks to Columbia, fans will be able to own one because they’ve recreated the coat and will be selling it soon! These things aren’t cheap and will cost buyers $500 dollars, but I actually might be willing to drop that kind of money on one of these! That’s how much I love the design and how bad I want one!
Here’s the description that was released:
Vintage design meets modern technology in the limited edition Star Wars Empire™ Crew Parka, an officially-licensed jacket inspired by the coat worn by The Empire Strikes Back cast and crew while filming in sub-zero weather in Norway. Worthy of ice planet Hoth, the waterproof-breathable shell with Omni-Heat™ thermal-reflective lining and 200g insulation will keep you as warm as a Wookiee. Authentic details include a bold blue design with security stripes, Star Wars patches, geographical filming coordinates in the lining, and a customizable name plate on the chest pocket.
If you want to order one of these bad boys, they will go on sale December 7th, starting at 12:01 am (EST) on the Columbia website.
Below you will find a video, various photos of the parka, and the story behind it:
Here are some additional details about the coat:
“Darth Vader with flames” embroidered chest patch is a replica of the emblem worn by the original crew.
Customizable name plate and “Norwegian Unit” patch allow you to identify yourself as a member of the crew.
Geographical coordinates of the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier film site are incorporated into the lining.
Sleeve stripes offer heightened visibility, while a rectangular Star Wars logo patch adds authenticity.
In 1979, a small but hardy group of cast and crew were on location in the frigid wilderness of Norway accessible only by rail. There, they would film the iconic scenes from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back set on the ice planet Hoth.
The producers knew that the bitter cold and breathtaking expanses of Hoth couldn’t be replicated on a sound stage, and they searched the globe for a location where the audience could feel the cold. They identified the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier near the small town of Finse, Norway as the ideal setting for the epic scenes. For several weeks that winter, the close-knit group of actors, crew, and hired locals filmed Tauntaun scouting missions, Wampa attacks, and an epic battle between Rebel snowspeeders and Imperial AT-AT walkers on the frozen tundra.
The conditions were brutally cold. The cast and crew needed serious winter gear to keep them protected on the treacherous terrain, and in icy winds, white-out blizzards, and subzero temperatures. They looked to Norwegian designer Per Frølich Poppe to create a jacket that would stand up to the harsh conditions and stand out with a design unique to the shoot. It’s estimated that fewer than 100 of the original jackets were made and the few that remain have become treasured memorabilia for serious Star Wars fans.
Having previously collaborated on exclusive Star Wars-inspired Columbia gear, Columbia designers jumped at the chance to bring you behind rebel lines—and deep behind-the-scenes—by offering the limited-edition Star WarsEmpire™ Crew Parka modeled directly after the original.
The Star Wars Empire™ Crew Parka offers a vintage look combined with modern performance. The waterproof-breathable and critically seam-sealed shell acts like the Echo Base shield generator to protect against the elements, while Omni-Heat™ thermal-reflective lining and 200g insulation will keep you as warm as a Wookiee. Features of the jacket include a removable, adjustable hood with removable faux fur trim, two-way collar, ribbed comfort cuffs, wrist zips, and multifunctional pockets.
But what makes collectors’ hearts beat faster are meticulously recreated details like the bold blue design, shoulder stripes for heightened visibility, the Darth Vader chest patch, Star Wars logos, and a removable and customizable name plate on the chest pocket. And to honor the exact location where the intrepid cast and crew braved sub-zero temperatures to film some of the most memorable scenes on film, we’ve incorporated the coordinates of the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier into the lining of the jacket.