Canada Goose Becomes Official Outfitter for Episode VIII
Breaking news, eh! Canada Goose — the maker of premium winter coats — is officially down with the Force. The manufacturer has acquired a Disney/Lucasfilm license and become the exclusive outfitter for Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII. As part of the agreement, Canada Goose is not only supplying outerwear for the cast and crew, but even some of the characters in the film as well! Keep reading for details on what to expect from this historic product placement deal — a first for the Star Wars saga.
Canada Goose Expedition Clothing Outfitters otherwise known as Canada Goose has landed a multi-million dollar contract to be the exclusive outfitter for the upcoming eighth installment of the Star Wars saga. FSW caught wind of the landmark deal via Ratchel Kubacki, a brand manager for the Toronto-based company and a very active member of the FakingFandom messageboards.
“I can’t tell you everything aboot it or Dani (Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss) for sure will hose me but it’s true. We’re going to be dressing new characters and droids in our jackets, parkas, and thermal tech.”
According to Kubacki, Reiss and Disney Chief Bob Iger cut the deal in under two hours. It appears Iger was facing pressure to partner with Canada Goose from director Rian Johnson and his current muse, Hayden Christensen.
“Darth Vader is a Canuck don’t-ya-knoo. Haydes wasn’t aboot to come back to Star Wars unless it was on his terms.”
Chistensen’s terms seem to have included wearing Canada Goose, while on set, and even when being filmed in-character. Rumors persist that Christensen will appear once again as Darth Vader in a vision or as a Force Ghost to either Kylo Ren, Rey, Luke, Maz Kanata, The Reaper, or Leia.
The Force is still strong with Christensen as he’s used his influence over Johnson to issue a mandate requiring everyone on set to be wearing Canadian Goose, including the director himself.
FakingStarWars can confirm every extra and on-camera principle at the Skellig-Michael shooting location as well as the Dubrovnik sets was sporting a jacket or hat with Canada Goose’s iconic logo emblazoned on it.
We pressed Kubacki to reveal which characters make the most of their new winter gear in the film.
“Definitely not Lando. That keener gave us such guff about his cape needing to be over his Arctic Rigger Coverall. Such a diva. El Reeper was also a giant toolbag. I get it Del Toro, the Chilliwack Bomber makes you sweat… man up for crissake, and he’s supposed to be a villain!”
After venting for a few minutes about Canada-Mexico relations and the need for several border walls, Kubacki finally answered our question.
“Let-me-tell-ya-something Daisy, John, and Adam – now they have the right attitudes. They even told our team ‘what the eh?! We’re already wearing these jackets off camera, this makes our work easier.’ Now those are genuine movie stars. They just roll with the punches in CG or not. (Canadian Goose)”
Our passionate Canuck did manage to get into specifics at some point – and they were totally worth the roundaboot talk. It seems Canada Goose is directly responsible for some of the “weirder” moments that screenwriter Lawrence “Larry Larr” Kasdan – an infamous weirdo himself – recently mentioned.
Apparently, Han Solo appears in a Forceback sequence set during The Empire Strikes Back. In the scene, which occurs on Hoth, a CG Solo discovers something before finding Luke… something that will have a dramatic impact on events in Episode VIII. The CG is rumored to be incredibly lifelike and Solo’s new Canada Goose coat looks similar to the one we all remember – they’ve just added the iconic logo. SPOILER: We think the item Solo discovers is the other lightsaber seen in production artwork for The Force Awakens but never in the film: the Wampa claw saber is critical to Episodes VIII and IX.
Kubacki also mentioned that Luke’s Canada Goose look will speak for itself. Ironically enough, she elaborated anyway.
“It’s piercingly white… made with only the finest goose feathers. They showed me a still of Hamill in the parka… I thought I was in Heaven, eh!”
FSW pressed Kubacki for whether Rey steals the show again in her new outfit.
“Daisy cuts a strong and powerful look in her custom Trillium. We added three lightsaber holders on the inside of the coat – one obviously much longer than the other two for when she takes the staff blade apart. If you ask me though, Snoke steals the show. He looks so human and vulnerable yet strong in his skully cap and parka.”
We’ve heard from a separate source that Andy Serkis has really taken to his new Canada Goose outfit. He even joked that Starkiller base might still be around if the First Order had been dressed properly for the cold.
While talking with Kubacki, we couldn’t help but talk about the controversy surrounding the materials used to make Canada Goose. Will this pose a public relations nightmare for the Star Wars brand?
“Not at all. This is entirely on the up and up. We only used endangered coyote fur for the First Order and the Knights of Ren. But that’s the point. They are supposed to be reviled. Everyone else uses gear that is made of free-range Hutterite goose feathers.”
Upon hearing this, we jokingly asked if there was a Hutt in Episode VIII who’d be covered in Hutterite, but Kubacki didn’t care for the humor and said she had no clue about the Hutts.
“I tell ya what this is really going to do is show the world how useful Canada Goose coats can be all across the universe. Poe Dameron actually uses the goose filling of his coat to escape a deadly trap set by Captain Phasma!”
When asked if this is why the coats charge a premium of upwards of $700, the brand manager ignored us and went into another anecdote:
“I heard from my colleague Gavin that Rian spotted some fans trying to sneak onto the set wearing counterfeit jackets made with feather mulch. Boy I’d love to have been there when Hayden Chistensen laid the smack down on those kids with their drones.”
FakingStarWars is thrilled by the collaboration between Star Wars and Canada Goose. The coats provide warmth, hipster cred, utility, and they manage to look good while doing it. No wonder the outfits have already been by award-winning costume designer Michael Kaplan.
Finally something the Resistance, The First Order, and the cast & crew of Episode VIII can agree on. Canada Goose looks good on you, Star Wars!
What do you think about this landmark collaboration? Do you own a Canada Goose coat yourself? Like/dislike/extra Force sensitive because of? Let us know in the comments section or on our new messageboards.
-will.i.am “willybobo” bobo
Special thanks to Ratchel Kubacki and the Canada Goose company. I take a size Medium.
