Today’s Mos Eisley Marketplace article features an interview with Star Wars fan and accessory designer Jackie, from Lantern Pins. Her range of Star Wars inspired pins and jewelry include a great variety of designs, including many inspired by female Star Wars characters! I absolutely adore the ‘Moodly Love’ and ‘Light Love’ heart-shaped lightsaber necklaces, inspired by Rey and Kylo Ren – the glitter accents are so beautiful!
Her designs are so popular, many sell out quickly – be sure to follow Lantern Pins on social media to stay updated on upcoming designs and releases (and stock levels). Visit the Lantern Pins website to sign up to their newsletter as well!
Prices range from US$6.00 to US$20.00 each – Lantern Pins can ship internationally, which is great!
Shop the range of Star Wars inspired jewelry and pins at LanternPins.com
Follow Lantern Pins on social media – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter
I recently had the incredible opportunity to ask Jackie a few questions about her fan label Lantern Pins, her favourite Star Wars fashion items, and her thoughts about the lack of licensed Padme’ Amidala fashion.
Read on for the full interview – and to find out which character will be featured next in the ‘Galactic Hair-ione’ pin collection!
How long have you been a Star Wars fan?
Since 1997 when my Dad took my younger sister and I to see the releases in theaters. It changed my whole life, my 9 year old self was completely transfixed.
Do you have a favorite Star Wars character?
UGH this is so hard. Leia is probably my favorite. But I do have a huge space in my heart for R2, BB-8 and Chewie.
How long have you been creating Star Wars inspired jewelry and pins?
About 2 years.
What inspired you to design and create Star Wars jewelry and pins?
I’ve always liked pins, I started collecting them right before my home city hosted the Winter Olympics (SLC 2002) and I have had an Etsy shop for 13 years now. I did shirts as well but they were just too big to keep stored in my house. So pins felt like the perfect fit for me.
How do you decide which Star Wars characters/elements to feature in your designs?
I try to design for myself, the things I love and want to make. I’ve found being genuine about what I make has made everything else come full circle for me. That being said I do love smaller things and more deep cut stuff.
What is your design process like? How long does it take to turn an idea into an item available for sale?
It depends, pins can be fast at about 4-6 weeks, but my larger items like bags can take anywhere from 6-8 months.
Do you have a personal favourite design from your Star Wars inspired range?
Oh man, this is hard too. I really do love the line of Love pins. The inspired saber designs and how much I can do with them. But it was my Force duo pins that really hit it off and made everything I now do possible.
What are some of your favourite Star Wars fashion items in your wardrobe or wish list (can be something you’ve made/plan to make)?
I really love all of my Loungefly bags, I joke that now that I’m a big girl I’m gonna buy all of the things that Little Jackie would of killed for. I also really love my Kay Jewelers line of jewelry, I treated myself to the C-3PO necklace and ring when they were on a clearance sale.
Do you have any particular favourite Star Wars fashion brands (licensed or fan made)?
Loungefly, Alex and Ani, Utinni Bikini, Dooney (can you see my bag obsession ?).
Your range includes designs inspired by Queen Amidala – what are your thoughts on the under-representation of Padme’ in Star Wars fashion?
It makes me sad, I was 11 when I saw The Phantom Menace in theaters and I LOVED her. I made my dad take me all around town to find Halloween makeup so I could paint my face like hers when we saw the movie a second time. Which was hard in SLC Utah in the middle of summer in 1999! No Amazon back then kids. She is so powerful and caring and loving. And to me that is such a unique trait, it’s not often in mainstream culture you see that and it’s something I truly aspire to embody.
She also just happens to get a lot of hate, well maybe not hate but not enough recognition because the prequels are held hostage by such fierce gatekeeping. I just LOVE Star Wars all of it warts and all, after all I was 9 and then 11 when I started watching these movies. I was the target age for them, and now that I’m looking 30 in the eye, I am able to still feel like the 9 year old me and that’s powerful. I just wish others could see that just because you were 29 seeing the prequels instead of 9 doesn’t make them bad you just don’t have the same nostalgia for them. And honestly all of the movies are a little goofy and have flaws but that doesn’t make them bad.
Also I would love to announce publicly for the first time the 5th pin in my Galactic Hair-ione line is going to Padme’ inspired, so don’t worry she will keep getting lots of love from me.
Any hints at possible upcoming Star Wars inspired designs?
I’ve got a new saber in the works, and I have the next 2 Galactic Hair-ione pins very close to being finished as well.
Do you ship internationally?
I sure do!
Where can fans find Lantern Pins on social media?
@lanternpins on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Many thanks to Jackie for her time in answering my questions. I love highlighting creative fan made fashion – especially when it features our favourite female Star Wars characters!
I can’t wait to see her upcoming Star Wars inspired designs like her Galactic Hair-ione Padme’ pin! Her designs are always so stylish, the perfect accessory for any outfit. Every Star Wars fan needs a Lantern Pin!
Photos sourced from and belong to Lantern Pins.
