Nazi helmets inspired Darth Vader’s Headgear.
Smithsonian Institute has put together a new exhibit featuring costumes worn by characters from the Star Wars film.
The exhibit showcases and explains the design processes of these costumes, and where they got their inspirations from.
Fast Co. Design spoke to senior manager Laela French of archives and exhibits at Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, to find out the stories behind the design of the costumes.
These costumes were heavily influenced by modern day sartorial references. For instance, elements of the Nazi uniforms were used to make the Darth Vader costumes, and Chewbacca was created in an image based on George Lucas’s dog.
Head over here to find out more surprising facts behind the Star Wars costumes.
Stormtroopers were named after specialist German soldiers in World War I.
Han Solo’s character was modeled after an archetype of old Western films.
Jedi Cop was inspired by the styles from Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai film.
Chewbacca mimicked the look and character of George Lucas’s dog.
[via Fast Co. Design, images via Smithsonian Institute]