Looking for authentic quality fabric Luke Jedi costume

[darthravenger]

Im looking for a quality made authetic movie accurate/fabric
Jedi Luke costume with the exact wool cloak.
Who makes the best representation of this costume and where might I go to get the best?

 

[darthravenger]

Anybody?

 

[yodakiller1138]

I remember seeing the costume at the MOM in Chicago and the robe was a brown crepe I believe. The pants and shirt were a black suit wool. I distinctly remember seeing the weave of the fabric. I don't know what the vest was made of. This is all from memory of course, so i hope it helps. Maybe someone who has seen it recently can chime in with their observations.

 

[Darth Mule]

I remember seeing the costume at the MOM in Chicago and the robe was a brown crepe I believe. The pants and shirt were a black suit wool. I distinctly remember seeing the weave of the fabric. I don't know what the vest was made of. This is all from memory of course, so i hope it helps. Maybe someone who has seen it recently can chime in with their observations.

I believe you are correct. I researched this a little when I was planning on making one for myself. Brown Wool Crepe cloak, black Wool twill jumpsuit, linen vest. The vest was a charcoal if I remember correctly.

I don't know of anyone that makes them regularly. There are several of us that you can commission to make one (myself included). But it would be less expensive to find someone that mass produced them.

 

[PadawanLearner]

this may or may not help you, but someone in the RL has done a number of Luke costumes and now has a site he's been updating with information: http://masterskywalker.net/?page_id=448

 

[Jumpin Jax]

Took a while to find this site again, they appear to be on hiatus but these are pretty nice duds:
http://www.spacecitycostumes.com/in...t_info&osCsid=c0db50afb94dae4efdfa459bb2738b4

 

[Kay Dee]

I've researched this costume quite a bit at both FIDM in Los Angeles, CIV, and even speaking with people who have examined the costume in person at the Lucasfilm archives.

The accurate cloak fabric is not easy to find (I have not come across it). It's reportedly a very thin wool. So thin in fact, someone who examined the cloak at the archives said they actually doubled up the layers for the film used costume to make it less transparent!

The outer tunic/obi/scarf like tabard I believe is a very heavy slubby silk. I didn't feel it, but a friend who is very familiar with fibers felt it and said it did feel like raw silk as opposed to linen.

Info I documented a few years ago (with modern edits)
Sources for outer tunic fabric

1) Sold by a distributor called Stylecrest Fabrics Ltd.. It is called "Native Pure Silk - Casablanca" The closest color was Sable, but it's just a touch more brownish than the real vest. I think it could be overdyed in a weak solution of black acid dye and it would be a nearly perfect off-black. The black they sold was a bit darker than the real costume. But another idea is washing the heck out of the black and perhaps adding a touch of bleach to help fade it. (always test first!) (I now tend to lean on thinking it would be easier to buy the black and wash it... maybe enzyme wash - to fade it).

There is a chance this company may only sell wholesale to people with a resale license, I'm not sure.

Here is a scan of their silk in the sable color next to a close-up of Luke's vest from C4

2) Silk sold by B. Black and sons in Los Angeles (it is not shown on their web site). They do not require a reseller license and will sell to the public. I call them often to order fabrics after I swatch things on trips to LA (since they don't show all their fabrics online - they can easily sell to you over the phone if you have the item number) It is called "Hand Woven Silk" by Kings Road Imports. Style 269. Either the light brown could potentially be overdyed with some black dye or the black might be able to be faded.

I'm so new here - I have yet to read up on rules about posting potential sellers/makers. I have a friend who makes the outer tunic... but last I saw she was using the brown Casablanca fabric without dying it and it looks too brown. Her pattern is pretty accurate though and she's a professional fashion designer so all her garments are well made. She makes cloaks as well, but I'm not sure if she's made an accurate Luke cloak.... yet PM me if you want her contact info. She goes by SiaLan Wezz at the Rebel Legion. Also has a store that goes by Eva-Vanecek-Reproductions

 

[nwjedidave]

Very well done costume research Kay Dee !! One of these years I'll get an accurate Anakin AOTC cloak made !

 

[Darth Mule]

Here's a raw silk noil in black.

http://www.thaisilks.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_21&products_id=1

And a raw silk tussah (suit weight)

http://www.thaisilks.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_22&products_id=295

And just for comparison, linen

Looks like the Tussah is the closest to the vest scan. Which incidentally is the most expensive of the three at $22.60 a yd

 

[darthravenger]

Thanks Kay Dee and Darth Mule.
Ill check into it.

 

[Kay Dee]

And a raw silk tussah (suit weight)

http://www.thaisilks.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_22&products_id=295

Tusssah, suit weight may be close. I actually plan to go to Thai Silks today (it's near my house) and will double check for you. But as I recall, none of their silk tussahs were heavy enough. It looks it in the photo because it is an extreme close up. So far the only two places I've found the appropriate weight are the two I mentioned above.

When I mentioned linen as an alternative, it would have to be a very heavy suit/upholstery linen. I believe my friend found her linen in the upholstery section. I've just found it randomly at warehouse type fabric stores. It's not a fine linen like you see for shirts and what not.

It can be hard to shop for things strictly online - you don't know how much they are blowing up the image to show you texture.

*edit* I edited my first informational post in this thread giving a link to b. black and sons. You can always call and order over the phone. Not all fabrics are on their web site, but if you have the item number and all the info I posted they can mail you anything in their vast supply of fabrics that they can't begin to represent on their web site.

 

[Darth Mule]

It can be hard to shop for things strictly online - you don't know how much they are blowing up the image to show you texture.

That's why you order swatches first. Its an extra step that takes extra time, but its better than blowing $26.00 a yd on something you can't use. I don't have alot of options very nearby, so I do alot of swatching and mail ordering for fabrics. My main job is as a costume designer, so I've become quite adept at long distance fabric shopping.

Speaking of which... I just sent in a request to B. Black and Sons for several swatches.

 

[Kay Dee]

That's why you order swatches first. Its an extra step that takes extra time, but its better than blowing $26.00 a yd on something you can't use.

Agreed, I always swatch when I can

I did visit Thai Silks and wouldn't you know 8D-154 is a match for the Luke outer tunic (Vest/tabard/obi combo)! I don't recall them having this a few years ago.

The interesting thing is, they have one roll right now that is a faded black. I was swatching it and the sales woman warned me "no, this is faded, let me get you the new bolt. This should be black" and I told her "No, faded is perfect!" So if anyone calls their actual store any time soon... ask for the faded bolt Luke's vest is not dark black, it is faded/weathered to an off-black.

It's a little stiff, might be a bit starched. It should be washed to soften it up and really help it look a little more weathered/distressed/pilled up.

 

[Darth Mule]

Agreed, I always swatch when I can

I did visit Thai Silks and wouldn't you know 8D-154 is a match for the Luke outer tunic (Vest/tabard/obi combo)! I don't recall them having this a few years ago.

The interesting thing is, they have one roll right now that is a faded black. I was swatching it and the sales woman warned me "no, this is faded, let me get you the new bolt. This should be black" and I told her "No, faded is perfect!" So if anyone calls their actual store any time soon... ask for the faded bolt Luke's vest is not dark black, it is faded/weathered to an off-black.

It's a little stiff, might be a bit starched. It should be washed to soften it up and really help it look a little more weathered/distressed/pilled up.

Excellent news. Now hopefully there will be some left when the payment for the commission comes in. Alternately, I was looking at your swatch scans and the Luke tunic fabric has a blue base to it. I requested swatches of the B. Black in blue if they have it, that way when dyed black, it would still have that same background.

Of course I'll opt for the faded black tussah given my druthers.

 

[Kay Dee]

I wouldn't say the base color is that blue. That could just be my camera or the lighting? When I did a pantone match it was close to something called Black Olive which is like a faded black with a very slight hint of brown.

This photo may be more true to color: http://imageevent.com/kay_dee/starwarscelebrationiv/archives?p=190&n=1&m=20&c=5&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

 

[Darth Mule]

I just ordered some of the Tussah and requested the faded. The sales lady told me it was pretty much all faded. That style is just not a very vivid fabric she said. So, good news I guess.