Interview with Eden Arborlane
By
Emeraux Da Cona
Coruscant Look sits down with Eden Arborlane, celebrating 500 years of the House of Arborlane, her new partnership with Chandrilla Starlines, and getting a sneak peek at the new High Republic Collection.
CL: Thanks for meeting with us today.
Eden: Glad you’re here.
CL: Outside your office, right now, is a Genosian hive of activity. Is House of Arborlane always this busy?
Eden: We’re always busy, but you’re catching us at a peak time. As you know, Coruscant Fashion Week is two weeks away, and we’re putting the finishing touches on our High Republic collection.
CL: I’m dying to see it. Why did you decide to use the High Republic as your inspiration?
Eden: The High Republic is a romanticized period of our history, and there is something for everyone in the High Republic. Jedi Knights explored the boundaries of the Republic, Chancellor Lina Soh daringly forayed into rich and undiscovered art and culture, and the new innovations of Hyper Space changed our galaxy. Mention the High Republic to anyone, even people whose political allegiances are with the First Order, and that person imagines their own ideal world. It’s fertile ground for a fashion movement. I’m surprised no one has designed with the High Republic in mind before.
CL: Agreed. I notice that the color palette is heavy with metallics, and the materials are ethereal. Would you say your designs are historically accurate?
Eden: Absolutely not. I’m designing dreams, not recreating history.
CL: One of the controversial parts of the collection is the weapon design.
Eden: There is a small segment of the collection influenced by the High Republic Jedi Order. Now, the colorful palette is the real color palette of the time. High Republic Jedis loved all the colors, unlike the final incarnation of the Jedi Order, which was almost monastic in its color choices.
CL: Monastic?
Eden: I joke that one of the reasons Jedis turned to the Dark Side was because they were bored with the color scheme. Wouldn’t you choose black and red over, what, mud and mustard yellow?
CL: You make a great point.
Eden: Back to the weapons. If someone wants to feel like a member of the High Republic, they need an elaborate weapon at their side, a filigreed, stylish hilt to match their amazingly colorful outfit. Now, having an actual light saber would be impractical, impossible, and dangerous. Think of these hilts as bags, theater glasses, jewelry. We have some hilts that are all these things.
CL: Are there other outfits beside neo-Jedi outfits?
Eden: Oh yes. The robes are more elaborate, with many layers, hoods and cowls are popular, and the materials are gain colorful. You’ll see how everything looks during Fashion Week.
CL: We’re looking forward to it. Can I talk a little bit about the history of the House of Arborlane?
Eden: As you know, Emeraux, we’ve been around for 500 years. In spite of what some of my employees think, I haven’t been around for 500 years.
CL: But the joke, of course, is that there was a daughter in the original Arborlane family who was named Eden.
Eden: My namesake. She never involved herself with the fashion business. She actually became one of those High Republic Jedis, which I have to admit captured my imagination as well.
CL: Any idea what happened to her?
Eden: That Eden Arborlane was posted at Oshiro, and I think she lived out her days in the temple there as an archivist. Not a very exciting life. But the House of Arborlane really took off about 250 years ago.
CL: Under the management of Hugo Arborlane?
Eden: Who had a head for business as well as an ability to design.
CL: One of the interesting parts of your history was House of Arborlane’s designing of uniforms for the Imperial Forces.
Eden: Right. Those designs made our reputation. We had always designed for socialites and senators, people who could afford it. This was our first foray into designing for the masses, if you will.
CL: Do you ever have regrets for your role in clothing the Empire?
Eden: I would have more regrets if we weaponized the Empire. And we have poured a great deal of money into Republic relief efforts, which has helped reform our image. We don’t deny that designing for the Empire is a part of our past. Strangely enough, one of our most popular men’s wear lines is based on the basic designs of those Imperial uniforms.
CL: You mentioned that Imperial uniforms were your first designs that weren’t haute couture. But now your emphasis is high fashion, correct?
Eden: I believe that everyone deserves fashion. We do design high end, one-of-a-kind garments. That’s not all we do. We have ready to wear clothes in finer stores. This year, we’re doing something special. Can I talk about my upcoming trip on Chandrilla Starlines?
CL: Absolutely.
Eden: Chandrilla and the House of Arborlane are teaming up for the 275th anniversary of the Halcyon, and our 500th anniversary. I am going on board the Halcyon to recruit designers from the Outer Rim Regalia. I’ll be modeling some of the Chandrilla jewelry collection on board, and I’ll be handing out Arborlane vouchers to the crew and passengers. We’ll be designing free looks for these folks as a promotion for our anniversary. All of those looks will be exclusive.
CL: Any chance I can get one of those vouchers?
Eden: If you’re on the Halcyon we can make it happen. What we want to do at House of Arborlane, always, is help people be their best selves. What you wear outside tells the world who you see yourself as inside.
CL: Will we get to see any of these exclusive designs?
Eden: There will be a 500th anniversary show at the end of the year, yes.
CL: Thanks for your time today, Eden.
Eden: Thank you for yours.
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Eden Arborlane will be on the July 30th-August 1st sailing of Chandrilla Starlines Halcyon Starcruiser.
