Today’s review features the Rey knit sweater by Musterbrand. It is no surprise that Rey has become so popular with fans, so it is great to see Musterbrand add a Rey themed garment to their Star Wars collection. This sweater was on my wish list ever since it was previewed back in October at New York Comic Con – so I’m very excited to finally get my hands on one!
The Rey sweater is available in sizes XS to 2XL, though due to popularity, certain sizes are currently out of stock. It is priced at €84.00 each (approximately US$89.35 each) direct from Musterbrand, or US$99.99 each from ThinkGeek. Both stores can ship internationally, which is great!
- Women’s Rey sweater – €84.00 each – sizes S, XL (Musterbrand, ships internationally)
- Women’s Rey sweater – US$99.99 each – sizes M to 2X (ThinkGeek, ships internationally)
The sweater arrived folded inside a clear plastic bag with the Musterbrand logo. I confess, I was so excited when this arrived that I took it out of the bag before photographing it, so it was folded a little more neatly than pictured here, but you get the idea. The cardboard tag features the Star Wars and Musterbrand logos, noting this is a licensed item – this was attached by a small cord to the inner garment tag, not to the sweater itself.
The inner garment tag notes the size, country of manufacture (Bulgaria), and customer service contact email – an interesting and useful inclusion. This tag is attached right on the neckline, but it can be removed – it has a small ‘scissor’ icon, to indicate you can cut it off, or you can unpick the small line of stitching if you prefer.
The beige colour knit sweater is made from 55% cotton, 45% polyester – it is a nice medium weight knit, good for cooler days. I am one of those people who can find wool a bit itchy, so I quite like that this is not made from wool.
The sweater is constructed from 3 main panels – left shoulder which crosses to the right side, right shoulder which crosses to the left side, and lower back panel. The sleeves are made from a different size knit, and attached at the upper arm (rather than high shoulder). The internal seams are all overlocked (serged), which helps to protect the seams and gives a nice tidy finish.
Inside, there is a black fabric tag sewn across the upper centre back seam – this tag features the Star Wars logo. The tag is attached with black stitching on the front, and beige colour-matched thread on the reverse, so the stitching is barely visible on the outside.
On the outside, there is a small metal dome featuring the Musterbrand logo, mounted on a small black vinyl strip attached just below the back neckline. Again, the stitching is colour matched – black on the outside, and beige on the inside. The attention to detail really shows here, ensuring these tags do not detract from the overall finish. Depending on your hair length, this small dome tag may be hidden when worn.
The left upper sleeve features a beige silicon patch of the Resistance ‘starbird’ symbol. The symbol is raised, with nice sharp detail. This is the only obvious Star Wars element on the sweater, beyond the internal garment tags (which of course are not seen when worn). I don’t mind big and bold Star Wars designs in my wardrobe, but this symbol patch is a nice compromise for fans who prefer a little more subtly – this is a licensed item after all.
The sleeves are a smaller knit, in the same beige colour. They feel a little softer than the main body knit, which is nice as this part tends to fit a little closer to your skin. The knit has raised ‘pin-tuck structure’ lines, which resemble the arm wraps of Rey’s Jakku outfit. I have no idea how they create this effect in the knit, but it is just fantastic – the raised lines remain clearly visible even when stretched. Bandages aren’t the most fashionable accessory, so it is brilliant how Musterbrand has turned that costume element into one of the best features of this sweater!
The sweater colour does appear a little different under different lighting conditions – some times it appears (and photographs) a little more grey, and some times it is more warmer in tone. I’m not usually drawn to beige colours in my wardrobe, but this design does such a great job of capturing the essence of Rey’s Jakku outfit.
Due to the overlapping shape, it is a little hard to measure accurately. I bought mine in size XS – it measures approximately 15cm across the top of the sleeve join, 39cm across the bottom (side seam to side seam), 53cm across the back seam (underarm to underarm), 8cm across the wrist, and 54cm from back neckline to lower back hem (measured while flat/not stretched). Due to the knit and crossover design, there is a certain degree of stretch and adjustment.
I am so happy to have this sweater in my wardrobe. While it is currently the peak of summer here in New Zealand, I can’t wait for colder weather so I can wear this – I know it will become an everyday item! I just love the Musterbrand style of design, taking costume inspiration and creating wearable, stylish pieces that fans can wear anywhere. I definitely need more of their fabulous garments in my wardrobe!
