With the long awaited addition to the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, due to be released on December 17 in the U.K., ten British fashion designers were asked to design a limited edition t-shirt and a sweatshirt inspired by the sci-fi films. The designs are to be sold exclusively at Selfridges from Thursday November 19, with profits going to support the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

The lineup of designers includes J.W. Anderson, Agi & Sam, Preen, Thomas Tait, Phoebe English, Claire Barrow, Christopher Raeburn, Peter Pilotto, Nasir Mazhar and Bobby Abley. Each designer was inspired by the phenomenon that Star Wars has become in very different ways. Agi & Sam produced abstract designs with a patch of bright colour resembling light reflection, J.W. Anderson opted for black and white tie dye with framed comic book pictures, whilst Claire Barrow printed doodles of central characters C-3PO, R2-D2 and Chewbacca.

“Seeing the films at an early age really sparked my interest in science fiction films which is now a great source of inspiration in my work,” said designer Barrow. “My exclusive designs for Selfridges celebrate the light-hearted nature of the film and its most loveable characters. The illustrations are inspired by 1977’s fan drawings from when the first film was released and hints to the return of these characters in The Force Awakens.”

Additionally, each designer has created a runway look which will be presented at a Star Wars: Fashion Finds The Force showcase on November 26th and subsequently sold in an online auction the same day, with all proceeds donated to support the redevelopment of the Great Ormond Street Hospital. The collaboration was organized by a Disney and Lucasfilm initiative, Star Wars: Force For Change.

1. PETER PILOTTO sweatshirt; 2. JW ANDERSON T-shirt; 3. CLAIRE BARROW sweatshirt

Published 19/11/2015 at shiftlondon.org