'Star Wars' and Columbia Travel to Endor for New Collection
The ‘Return of the Jedi’-inspired range is the duo’s largest to date.
When it comes to Star Wars collaborations, no brand goes as in-depth as Columbia does. The duo has presented annual holiday collections rich in detail since 2016, and are back to close out the year by traveling to the forest moon of Endor.
Dubbed the Endor Collection, this is the duo’s most extensive campaign to date. Per usual, Columbia’s signature technology combines with thematic designs that feature special details for Star Wars diehards and casual fans alike. Iconic looks have been reimagined, from Han Solo’s trench coat to Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia’s camouflaged ponchos. Starring in this year’s campaign is Billie Lourd, who plays Lieutenant Connix in the sequel trilogy and is the daughter of the legendary Carrie Fisher.
“Finding new ways to honor my mom’s legacy in the Star Wars universe is something that means so much to me,” shared Lourd. “Getting to wear the iconic pieces Columbia created and getting to have my family bring that story to life for fans was an incredibly special experience and a memory I will cherish forever.”
Diving further into the range, the aforementioned General Han Solo Trench features a 3-in-1 design that nods to Solo’s tactical gear he wears on the forest moon. Columbia’s Interchange system pairs a shell with a vest lined with Omni-Heat Infinity. As for the Endor Issue Ponchos, not only do they recreate the iconic look worn by Luke and Leia, they feature Omni-Tech waterproof fabric and bungee-adjustable arms. Following last year’s footwear debut, the two have produced another boot. The Endor Issue Boot is built for exploration, combining Omni-MAX cushioning, an Omni-Grip outsole, and a TechLite midsole while still fitting in plenty of thematic references.
The Star Wars x Columbia Endor Collection will drop on December 11 at 10am EST via Columbia. Members of the brand’s free rewards program will also be able to shop the range 30 minutes early. Take a complete look at the range and read through our conversation with Columbia’s Erin Steele, special projects manager, below.
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When developing theme ideas for Endor, where did the team begin? Was there a particular concept that hooked the team on the theme?
Return of the Jedi is such an iconic film. The scenery on Endor is captivating, highlighting the beautiful Redwood forests and reminding us of Columbia Sportswear’s own backyard. Not to mention, the costumes worn on Endor fell right into our outerwear specialty, allowing us to create our first-ever head-to-toe Star Wars collection, including incredible silhouettes like Han’s trench, the Rebel ponchos, vests, boots, pants, and Ewok fleeces. The entire project really came to life when we captured the collection at our photo shoot in the Redwoods.
What aspect of Endor’s environment or lore was the hardest to interpret into apparel?
The spray-painted camouflage on the Endor Issue Ponchos presented a fun challenge for our team. The original costume pieces used a very organic, hand-sprayed technique, so we worked carefully to ensure our versions captured that same imperfect, authentic look. One of the most exciting aspects of this collection was balancing costume accuracy with real-world functionality. A lot of time went into translating detailed costume design elements into wearable, performance-driven apparel.
What is your favorite detail within The Endor Collection?
It’s hard to pick a favorite detail from this collection. Carefully placed rebel logos, coordinates, and Aurebesh messages for fans to decode are visible throughout. If I had to pick, though, it would be the inclusion of the original concept art found on the blanket, the Ewok fleece patch, the Bright Tree Village tee, and the actual map of the filming location used inside the shoebox and on the back of one of our long-sleeve tees. We take a lot of care thinking through all the tiny details in our Star Wars collections, and to have the trust to include those beautiful concept art moments allows us to create something truly unique and special for fans!
What emotion do you hope fans feel when they put these pieces on for the first time?
We hope fans feel like they’re being dropped right into General Han Solo’s Pathfinder Strike Team. We want them to feel deeply connected to those pivotal scenes on Endor and be inspired to get outdoors for their own real-life adventures in gear designed especially for them.
The Star Wars x Columbia partnership is approaching a decade of collections. What has it been like watching fan excitement grow, and how has that energy shaped how you approach new concepts?
The Star Wars collections have truly become one of the highlights of our year. The franchise has a passionate, dedicated fan base, and we’re honored to work alongside Lucasfilm and Disney Consumer Products to do justice to these incredible stories and moments. As fan excitement continues to grow, it also increases our sense of responsibility to deliver authentic, high-quality products that people can actually wear in their daily lives to celebrate their love for the series. Seeing the fan reactions year after year is always a huge source of inspiration for our team.
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