Geek glam clothing line Her Universe has teamed up with popular Japanese book shoppe Kinokuniya USA and Toto Concept 90 in San Francisco, California to launch their Studio Ghibli Pop Up Shop. It is open to the public from February 24 – March 18 and Major Spoiler’s own Ashley Victoria Robinson had an opportunity to attend the media sneak peek.
Her Universe was started by Star Wars: The Clone Wars voice actor Ashley Eckstein with the tagline:
“FASHION FOR FANGIRLS.
Her Universe is a groundbreaking fangirl fashion company and lifestyle brand founded by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, whose mission is to create stylish, fashion-forward merchandise for female sci-fi fans.”
They have been a long-standing staple of my wardrobe because for so long they were the only company doing what they do and they have consistently done it so very, very well. I was dying to get up to San Francisco and check out this shop!
The pop up installation is definitely Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki-themed with breakout film My Neighbor Totoro being the main inspiration for the design and cleverly crafted structural pieces. Free tickets to the #GhibliPopUpShopSF are still available right: here!
Her Universe and Box Lunch had created an exclusive line of products that extends from art books, special blu ray editions, housewares, clothing, and accessories from all of Studio Ghibli’s industry-changing films. What I truly appreciate about the breadth and scope of what they are offering is that you can find cool, well-designed, well-made products from whichever Miyazaki adventure most touched your heart. I am a Kiki Delivery’s Service fan and it was nothing short of delightful to be able to fill my basket with Kiki swag!
At the first look event we had the opportunity to experience some extra special activities – like drawing our own Spirited Away-inspired soot sprite! – some of which will continue to be part of the installation until it closes.
In addition to a pair of exclusive Her Universe t-shirts that were created specifically for the event, the pop up shop is offering a free Totoro tote bag to any purchases totally over $100 (while supplies last, of course).
If you get a chance to visit, I would highly recommend taking your time while you’re there. Initially, I thought I could breeze in and out and eat my Totoro macaroons by the time I was walking back out the door. Now I am here to assure you that this is not the case. There is just so much cool stuff! I wasn’t, honestly, expecting to walk out of the event that night with a Howl’s Moving Castle dishcloth, but I assure you that I absolutely did! I also picked up a Totoro crystal blind box that I unboxed in a video along with Wendy Lee Szany (Geek & Glitter blog, The Movie Couple on youtube), and a JiJi riding on Kiki’s broom necklace.
This pop up shop is such a cool way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking My Neighbor Totoro,
celebrate geek girl culture, and partake in a fashion experience unlike anything else that is going on outside of one of the year’s major conventions. As always, Her Universe is killing it! If you can get yourself to San Francisco I 1,000% recommend checking out. Don’t forget that you can get a free ticket: here.
