Today’s review features the Rey inspired Galactic Scavenger vest by Elhoffer Design. Inspired by the Resistance outfit Rey wears at the end of The Force Awakens, this fan made fashion version includes a knitted vest and matching arm warmers.
Elhoffer Design is making huge strides in the world of fan made fashion, expanding into factory runs to meet demands, including a new fantastic knitwear range. To read more about Elhoffer Design, check out our review of her Jedi inspired Galactic Knight dress, and read our interview with Elhoffer Design for more of her amazing Star Wars inspired fashion!
The Galactic Scavenger vest is available in 2 colour choices – grey or black, with all sizes XS to 3XL currently in stock. The vest is priced at US$70.00 each, which also includes matching arm warmers to complete the look. Elhoffer Design can ship internationally, which is great!
- Galactic Scavenger vest (grey) – US$70.00 each – sizes XS to 3XL
- Galactic Scavenger vest (black) – US$70.00 each – sizes XS to 3XL
Follow Elhoffer Design on social media – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Pinterest
The Galactic Scavenger vest features short raglan style sleeves, waist seam, front and back princess seams, and a standing collar. The waist seam gives a slight peplum effect, flaring out a little over the hips. Both the vest and arm warmers are made from knitted acrylic yarn – the garment tag notes it is 85% acrylic, 15% rayon. The grey colour is a nice warm tone, with a very subtle mottled pattern, which echoes the fabric texture of the original costume vest.
The front open edges are sealed, in that the knitting is self contained and does not have a raw edge. This is a great feature of a garment designed to be worn open, so you don’t have overlocking (serging) visible on those open edges.
The raglan style short sleeves have a raised ribbed pattern, resembling the quilted lines of the original costume vest. This is one of the most distinctive details of Rey’s vest, so of course it has to be included in any fashion version.
All of the internal seams are overlocked (serged) in a colour-matched grey thread, to protect the edges. The inside left side seam also has a small white garment tag, which notes the fabric composition, care instructions, ‘Made In USA’, and the size.
The front of the vest can close shut, with a silver tone hook and eye sewn inside the front, just above the waist seam. While Rey wears her vest open, it is great to have this option if you prefer a more fitted look.
I bought my vest in a size XS – lying flat it measures approximately 37cm across the shoulders (sleeve hem to sleeve hem), 37cm across the chest (underarm to underarm), 31cm across the waist seam, 36cm across the lower edge, and 55cm from front neckline to front lower hem. These measurements are with the front sitting closed, so there is room for adjustment, as the vest can be worn open loosely, and the knit has some stretch as well.
The back of the vest has 2 princess seams and a waist seam. These seams are used on the original costume vest, so its great to see so much detail included in this fashion version. The collar is double layered (with the fold at the top edge) so it stands up well on its own. On my size XS vest, the collar measures approximately 5.5cm high and 28.5cm long.
Of course one of the lovely touches to every Elhoffer Design is the custom metal logo tag. The dark grey tag metal is sewn onto the vest at the back collar seam. This is a subtle spot, which is visible if you’re wearing your hair up in Rey’s 3-bun hairstyle, but not distracting from the design. The metal tag measures approximately 5cm long by 1.3cm wide, with the recessed text ‘Elhoffer Design’.
The arm segments of the original costume are made of 2 parts – the arm wraps, and sewn fabric gauntlets. For this fashion version, Elhoffer Design cleverly creates this 2-part effect with different stitching, avoiding any uncomfortable horizontal seams. The top of the arm warmers has a raised ribbed pattern, to resemble the wraps Rey wears on her arms. The lower half of the arm warmers are flat, the same as the vest, to resemble the sewn gauntlets Rey wears on her forearms.
To keep the gauntlet shape, the lower end of the arm warmers have a thumb hole in the side seam. This allows the sleeve to continue onto the back of your hand for a gauntlet style. The edges of the hole are rolled under a bit – the internal knitted edges of the arm warmers are closed, in that they do not need protecting with overlocking (serging). This also helps keep the arm warmers nice and comfortable for wearing tightly on your arms.
One of the sleeves has a small garment tag sewn into the inside seam at the top, which is the same as the garment tag inside the vest (noting the the fabric composition, care instructions, Made in USA, and size). The arm warmers came attached together with a small clear plastic tie, to make sure you get 2 of the same size. My size XS arm warmers measures approximately 58cm long, 8cm across the top hem, 10.5cm across the upper arm (bicep area), and 8cm across at the lower hem. These are designed to be worn quite fitted/snug so they stay up your arm like an opera glove.
It really surprises me that no licensed company has made a Rey vest for women yet. I understand that to avoid spoilers, Rey’s Resistance outfit was not used in promotional material/merchandising until after the film’s release, but it has been well over a year now! Really showing her knowledge of what fans want, Elhoffer Design is once again filling a gap in the market. She continues to impress me with her skillful combination of costume design and real world style – every Rey fan needs this vest in their wardrobe!
