Hot Topic and Her Universe Join Forces for
Star Wars Day 2013

NEW YORK, NY - May 1st, 2013 - Star Wars fans already know that the Force is everywhere but on May 4th the stars align for those who live and breathe every moment of the Star Wars saga. This day is a special opportunity to celebrate all things in that "galaxy far, far away" and, of course, to say, "May the 4th Be With You!" For the second year in a row, Her Universe™, the leading sci-fi merchandise line for fangirls, is teaming up with Hot Topic to offer new exclusive Star Wars dresses and fashion tops created by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

On May 4th, the popular Star Wars By Her Universe line will debut six new fashion pieces exclusively on Hottopic.com. The first 500 customers who purchase a Star Wars by Her Universe item online at Hottopic.com beginning at 1am PST on May 4th will receive a FREE Star Wars by Her Universe cinch sack. In addition, all day on May 4th Hottopic.com and Starwars.com (the official Star Wars website), and their social media sites, will celebrate this special fan holiday with fan-themed content and giveaways.

"I am thrilled to be working with Hot Topic again to celebrate May the 4th Be With You," said Ashley Eckstein. "I am also excited to debut a new design with one of our favorite guest designers, Denise Vasquez. Denise brought her unique 'Day of the Dead' inspired style to a new design featuring Boba Fett."

With the growing audience of female Star Wars fans, Hot Topic and Her Universe have a number of new tops and, for the first time, Star Wars by Her Universe dresses to offer them. The new Hot Topic apparel line features popular villains Boba Fett and Darth Vader as well as fan favorite Rebels Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.

In celebration of "May the 4th Be with You," Her Universe will also be offering 20% off of all current Star Wars apparel on www.HerUniverse.com on May 4th (Hot Topic product only available on Hottopic.com). In addition, while visiting the Her Universe website, fans can also view the past and present honoree's for "fangirl of the day" - part of a very special year-long campaign, the "Year of the Fangirl," which spotlights and recognizes fangirls of all ages showing their diversity, dreams and interests. Anyone can nominate a fangirl to be highlighted on the site. Go to www.HerUniverse.com for more information.


About Her Universe 
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC Worldwide for Doctor Who and with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Facebook (facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse).

About Hot Topic 
Hot Topic is a mall- and web-based specialty retailer beloved by rebellious and expressive teens for more than 20 years. Hot Topic offers music and pop culture junkies band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise, and fashion apparel and accessories. Hot Topic operates 621 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and an online store at hottopic.com. Find Hot Topic on Twitter (twitter.com/hottopic), Facebook (facebook.com/hottopic), YouTube (youtube.com/hottopic) and Instagram (instagram.com/hottopic).

In this video Ashley Eckstein talks about her new Star Wars by Her Universe fashion collection for Hot Topic!

Look stunning, while you pledge your allegiance to the dark side, in this Japanese Stormtrooper tank dress from Her Universe featuring art used on Japanese Tea Towels. Available exclusively at Hot Topic.

Look retro chic in this Japanese Star Wars poster tank dress from Her Universe and available exclusively at Hot Topic. Ultra soft, it is the perfect dress for summer.

The second design from the Dia de Muertos collection by Her Universe guest designer, Denise Vasquez, features everyone's favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett, on this tank and his famous line, "He's No Good To Me Dead." Available exclusively at Hot Topic.

Everyone loves the famous scoundrel, Han Solo, which is why Ashley Eckstein has featured him on this new tee just in time for May the 4th exclusively at Hot Topic!

Ashley Eckstein sublimated this classic Empire Strikes Back poster on a t-shirt for the Star Wars by Her Universe line at Hot Topic! Ultra soft and comfortable, it captures the romance in Ashley's favorite movie from the Star Wars franchise.

Featuring art from one of the fan favorite Star Wars posters, Darth Vader and the stars are accented by silver foil on this Her Universe poster tank, perfect for summer, and available exclusively at Hot Topic.

This Star Wars by Her Universe cinch sack is FREE to the first 500 customers who purchase a Star Wars by Her Universe item on May 4th at Hottopic.com! May the 4th Be With You!