As a lady (oh, alright... woman), I've always faced certain challenges when wanting to display geekitude for all to see. I, among others, have become reconciled to the difficult task of remaining fashionable while also proudly proclaiming for all to see that yes, I am nerd, hear me roar. Dearest female brethren (sisteren?), I'm pleased to announce that no longer will we have to wear another pink, Princess Leia shirt or sift through the dregs of a men's Old Navy sale to snag that one, gray ESB shirt that you've had your eye on for so long, and then not be able to find it. Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano, has partnered with Lucas Licensing and The Araca Group to design and produce a line of fashionable female-focused Star Wars products, to be made available at conventions throughout the country and via the Her Universe website. The Her Universe line is an answer to all of my problems (of the what to wear type), and I, for one, cannot wait to start accessorizing.

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The voices of female Star Wars? and science-fiction fans have been heard! Recognizing a need and a desire for merchandise created especially for the female fan, actress Ashley Eckstein - the voice of Ahsoka Tano in the hit animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars? - has created Her Universe,? a new clothing line featuring fashionable, feminine products for fangirls. Partnering with The Araca Group - a leading production and merchandise company ? Eckstein will enter into a multi-year agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-focused Star Wars products, to be made available at conventions throughout the country and via the Her Universe website.

?We?re thrilled to be working with Lucas Licensing to address this dramatically expanding market of Star Wars female fans,? says Eckstein. ?After four years of working on The Clone Wars, I have become a huge Star Wars fan and have noticed the rapidly increasing number of women who share my love for George Lucas? amazing universe. Wanting to give these fans a voice and affirm that they play an important role in the world of Star Wars and science-fiction, we created the Her Universe brand especially for them. As a consumer, I believe that quality and creativity are of the utmost importance and those standards were paramount in my joining forces with The Araca Group.?

?We are thrilled to start Her Universe with Ashley and we look forward to helping bring her vision to life,? said Matthew Rego, principal of The Araca Group. ?Moreover, the opportunity to work with Lucas Licensing utilizing the Star Wars catalog of images is thrilling. Our goal is to bring fashion-forward, authentic, quality products to the legion of devoted female Star Wars fans.?
?Ashley is such an enthusiastic emissary of the Star Wars brand, and we are so excited that she?s taken the lead on this exciting new initiative,? said Paul Southern, Lucas Licensing?s Sr. Director of Domestic Licensing and Marketing. ?She has her finger on the pulse of what our female fans want to wear.?

The Araca Group is known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. As producers, Araca?s credits include Wicked, The Laramie Project, Urinetown The Musical, Debbie Does Dallas, The Vagina Monologues, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, A View From the Bridge and the current Broadway production Lend Me a Tenor. As merchandisers, Araca has launched worldwide operations for entertainment properties including Wicked, The Wedding Singer, Jersey Boys, and Rock of Ages.

Described playfully as ?geek chic,? the new Star Wars line from Her Universe will premiere at San Diego Comic-Con?s Star Wars Pavilion in July, and will also be available at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida in August. Fans can also learn more about Her Universe and get updates by going to www.heruniverse.com/ and by following Ashley on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HerUniverse and visiting the Her Universe Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HerUniverse.



If you would like more information on Her Universe or to schedule an interview with Ashley Eckstein, please contact Dan Madsen at HerUniversePR@Araca.com
Lucasfilm, STAR WARS? and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & ? Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

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Stay tuned for more news about this exciting line! Ashley will be talking with us tonight, so keep your eyes peeled for a special interview tomorrow! Also, make sure to tune into the Forcecast tomorrow night at 8pm EST for a special treat as Ashley takes live listener calls!