Ashley Eckstein On 11 Years Of The Her Universe Fashion Show, The Importance Of Friendship, A New Podcast, Ahsoka And More!
Image: Fashion and Fandom
“Fashion equals passion. And whatever your passion is should represent your fashion, and so that will definitely be highlighted by the theme of this year’s show.”
The Her Universe Fashion Show is one of the marquee events of San Diego Comic-Con each year. Since it’s debut in 2014, the annual event gives aspiring fashion designers the chance to showcase one-of-a-kind, geek couture designs on the runway in front of a standing room only crowd of fashion fans. If you’re heading to the show at San Diego’s Manchester Grand Hyatt at 6pm PT on July 24 are in for an unforgettable evening.
This year’s show is sponsored by Universal with the theme “Defying Fashion: Fashion That Defies Expectations,” inspired by the Wicked films. Once again, the audience will help choose one of the winners, along with an expert panel of judges. Returning partners include AOA as the show’s special effects sponsor and fan-favorite brand Lug as the official bag sponsor. Her Universe founder, Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano, Star Wars), will be hosting the show again this year. Joining Eckstein again this year as cohost will be Broadway star, Michael James Scott (The Genie in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway)
It’s always a pleasure talking with actress, entrepreneur, and best-selling author, Ashley Eckstein, who was kind enough to take time on the eve of this year’s show to talk about what fans can expect to see this year, her new podcast, her friendship with co-host, Michael James Scott, the importance of connection, Ahsoka and more!
Image: Mark Edwards Photography (Ashley Eckstein and Michael James Scott with 2024 winners Candice Miller and Wes Jenkins)
Fashion and Fandom: Congratulations on 15 years of Her Universe, and 11 years of the Her Universe Fashion Show, which is hard to believe, but it's true. Such a busy time for you right now, so thank you for taking the time to talk about a lot of the upcoming things you have going on. First and foremost, the fashion show. So tell me what fans can expect from the show this year.
Eckstein: Oh my goodness, I am so excited for the show this year. The Her Universe Fashion Show is being presented by Universal this year. So all of the designers had the ability to be inspired by Universal franchises and properties and films. We got a wide variety of submissions, and you're going to see a wide variety of looks on the runway. So I can't wait for everyone to see their looks, because the designers have truly raised the bar this year. Our theme is “Defying Fashion”, and not only the did the designers lean into that theme, but me and my co-host, Michael James Scott, and once again, Andrew MacLaine is returning as our designer. We've really leaned into ‘Defying Fashion’, and specifically Wicked. I'm a big fan of Wicked. The movie has now become one of my favorite movies of all time. I'm literally counting down the days until Wicked For Good. So to get to play with the world of Wicked during this very special time, and work with Universal has been a dream come true. We're using some unconventional materials and it’s exciting.
Fashion and Fandom: When I saw the theme this year…I'm always excited about the themes, but when I saw this year’s theme, it reminded me of a quote by the designer Kenzo Takada, who said, ‘Fashion is like eating, you shouldn't stick to the same menu.’ I heard that years ago, and I looked it up again last night so I wouldn’t mess up the quote when I paraphrased it. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities of what people might see this year on the runway. It's really cool.
Eckstein: Yes, the possibilities are endless. And, you know, being inspired by Wicked fashion is unlimited. Fashion can be anything, and I love that quote that you pulled. It so accurately describes fashion, and especially our show and and geek couture. Fashion equals passion. And whatever your passion is should represent your fashion, and and so that will definitely be highlighted by the theme of this year's show.
Image: Mark Edwards Photography
Fashion and Fandom: There have been so many iconic moments over the last 10 years, and you’ve had so many iconic runway looks…and Michael too, at this point after the last few years. Do you feel pressure going into the show every year to come up with something bigger and better? Is there a lot of pressure when you're prepping for the show?
Eckstein: There's a tremendous amount of pressure, you know? I think the lesson that I've learned is there's always a sense of pressure to top what you've done. And some looks, like my Lego dress that was designed by Nathan Sawaya, who is a world renowned brick artist, and also Andrew MacLaine… that can't be topped. The bendable LED screen dress by Disney Imagineer, Daniel Joseph and and Disney producer and director John Gleim and once again, Andrew MacLaine. You know, those are one of a kind. There's this pressure to continue to top it. Raise the bar and raise the bar. And every dress, kind of like what we're talking about, is is different. Going back to your quote, if you're looking at a menu, well, there's several different entrees. It doesn't make one entree better than the other. I just try to give a wide variety, and there are limitations. We're in a hotel ballroom, there's there's budget limitations, but sometimes bigger doesn't always mean better. So this year…I don't want to give anything away, but I really took the theme to heart, and I thought outside of the box. I've personally really leaned into technology the past couple years. And I might be taking a different direction. I wanted to do something new. And it's definitely…two looks in particular that have have never been done before, so I'm very excited about it.
Fashion and Fandom: Collaborating with Andrew MacLaine, you guys always push the boundaries. You've given us a little exciting tease for what people can expect to see, and I can't wait. You also are back again this year with Michael. The chemistry you two have is incredible. I know you've known each other for a long time. Looks like you're just having so much fun up there, even though I know it's work…but it still looks like you're having a great time. What is it like co-hosting together?
Eckstein: We love it. It's it's truly one of our favorite things all year, and and now I can't imagine doing the fashion show without Michael. You know, the friendship is real. It's genuine. We like to say that we established HypeFriend! in 1996, because we met my freshman year of high school. It was Michael's sophomore year of high school, and we just hit it off. We were very, very good friends in high school, and then life took us in different directions. But thanks to the wonderful world of Disney our paths crossed again, and it was like we hadn't skipped a beat…it was just such a deep connection. And so yes, it is work, but it doesn't feel like work when we're together. And it also feels like I can do anything with him by my side. Going back to last year's show, one of my greatest fears literally happened on the stage.
Fashion and Fandom: What was that?
Eckstein: One of my looks just completely fell apart on the stage in front of 2000 people, and there was no salvaging it. I just kind of froze, and Michael walked back to me. I'll never forget, because it was like it was in slow motion. He picked up my look, he grabbed my hand, and he walked me down the runway. An unexpected theme that came out of last year's show was sometimes your world falls at your feet, and you have to just pick it up and keep moving forward. And so I was able to kind of just keep moving forward with him by my side. This year's show… I did just announce on social media this week…I'm actually going to be joining him with a little bit of singing, and I am terrified. I grew up singing, but when Michael went to Broadway, I went out to LA and I pursued film and television, and so I really haven't sung in 25 years. So I've really kind of developed a fear of singing live, and I'm still terrified. But with Michael by my side, I'm gonna do it. So yeah, that is one spoiler we just shared this week. I can talk about and, and to be honest, I'm talking about it to kind of like rip the band aid off.
Fashion and Fandom: Good idea, because then it will feel like it's not a big deal, especially when you have a good friend by your side. That brings me to another project you're doing with Michael, a podcast that you two have just launched. When you have good friends that have your back, you can do anything…or you feel like you can do anything. So talk to me a little bit about HypeFriend!, the new podcast that just dropped this month.
Image: HypeFriend!
Eckstein: Yes. So actually, it’s something we’ve been working on for two years, after the first Her Universe Fashion show that Michael co-hosted with me, which was two years ago. The day after, we were equally so excited and sad at the same time, because we had so much fun…and then we were sad that it was over. We just wanted to continue to work together. And Michael's husband, Jeremy Merrifield, who is a very successful producer and director in his own right, he said, ‘Well, why wait around for somebody to give you the opportunity?’ He said, ‘Why don't you just do it yourself? He's like, why don't you all start a podcast?’ And so we started brainstorming. And like I said, it's taken two years.Doing a podcast takes a lot of time, and if we're going to spend the time to do that, we wanted to do it for good. We wanted to help others. It's definitely an extension of my mental health work. I had been using the term ‘hype friend’ for a while now, and so one day I just asked Michael what if we do a podcast about friendship, and what if we call it HypeFriend!
You know, a couple years ago, the U.S. Surgeon General released a a report that we're experiencing a loneliness epidemic, and one thing that's proven is that friendship can help someone feel less alone. And so look, we're not doctors, we're not clinicians, we're not experts, but we can be friends. We can be voices, and we can start a friendship revolution, one hype friend at a time. And so that's our mission. We're gonna do a whole podcast about friendship, about how to make friends, be friends, keep friends, and really showcase what it means to be a good friend unconditionally, and to really be there for someone, and also stress the importance of in person connection.
Fashion and Fandom: I see it with my nieces and nephews. They can all be in the same room, and they're all on the phone, like texting or on Tiktok or whatever, and they're not talking to each other.
Eckstein: Yes
Fashion and Fandom: I mean, they're talking to each other, but they're talking to each other digitally. So I love your mission statement and the ideas that you guys are bringing to this podcast. It’s so important.
Eckstein: Thank you.
Fashion and Fandom: So important.
Eckstein: Yes. Thank you. I do a lot of work with the kids Mental Health Foundation, and one thing that they taught me is that connection is a basic necessity. So just like food and water and sleep, we need connection. We are social beings, and we need connection. Technology is wonderful. I mean, it's enabling us to be able to speak together right now, but it should never replace in person connection, and that's what we're trying to stress. We're trying to encourage people to get out, to make friends, to go out together, you know, to hang out together. And we've all, not only kids today, but also adults…we've lost some of those social skills because it's so much easier to text someone than to pick up the phone and call them or say ‘hey, you want to go grab coffee and hang out?' So, yeah, we're going on a journey, and we're going to start a friendship revolution, one HypeFriend! at a time.
Fashion and Fandom: I am so here for it, and I am also here for the fact that you're going to do an after party recording, the day after the fashion show. Tell me a little bit about that.
Eckstein: So actually, thanks to our friends at Comic Con, I was telling them about the podcast, and they said, ‘Well, hey, we have a podcast stage, and you should do an episode of HypeFriend! at San Diego Comic Con’. And I said, Well, wow! Do you think we can turn it into like an official after show of the Her Universe Fashion Show? Because I want to to hype everyone up. I want to hype the winners up. I want to hype up Andrew MacClaine and all the designers and the team that worked on the show. So that's what we're going to do. Friday, July 25 at the podcast stage, which is at the San Diego Library right there downtown, right next to Petco Park. We're going to do a live taping of the podcast. It's our first in-person taping, and we're so excited. It's at 10am, and the winners are going to be there, and we're going to have special guests, and we're just going to have a lot going to have a lot of fun.
Fashion and Fandom: That's going to be a blast. I'm actually sad I'm going to miss it, but I have friends who are going to be there, so they'll have to give me the give me the report.
Eckstein: You can hear it. But also, one thing we're really proud of with the podcast is we're also a video podcast, so so you can watch our podcast on YouTube, or you can listen to it on Spotify, or, you know, all the various podcast platforms.
Image: Her Universe
Fashion and Fandom: Shifting gears a little bit before I let you go…I know a lot of Ahsoka fans are really excited that you will be back in September as the voice of Ahsoka. Talk to me about your upcoming appearance in the Lego-verse.
Eckstein: Oh my gosh. I'm so excited! When I got the call to return as Ahsoka for LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy—Pieces of the Past I cried. I definitely cried. Ahsoka is a part of my heart and soul, and she's forever a part of me. And you know, Dave Filoni promised me I'd always be the voice of Ahsoka in animation. But, I never know if she's going to return. So when I got the call, I was so excited, and it felt so good to step into her boots again. And even though she's in a Lego galaxy far away, it's still the same Ahsoka that we've grown to to know and love. You know, she looks a little different. It's Brickheadz Ahsoka, but it's still Ahsoka’s heart, and I can't wait for fans to meet Brickheadz Ahsoka.
Fashion and Fandom: You've created such an amazing community with Her Universe, which really is a unique and special community. I feel you see it online. You see it with the passion for the clothes and the brand, and you really see it at the fashion show… for people who haven’t been lucky enough to go the energy there is unbelievable. What do you hope the lasting legacy of Her Universe Fashion Show is?
Eckstein: You said it. Community. You know, I tell people you don't need to know anything about fashion to to come to the fashion show, because it really is just a celebration of fandom and community. And from day one with Her Universe my rule was that it was community first. I even said, I don't care if you ever buy a single thing from us. You don't have to. You don't have to buy a t-shirt or a design. Just come and be a part of the community. That's always what it's been about. For me, the fashion is just a means to really connect people and to make people feel confident in in their fashion and in their fandom, more importantly. So community is always my number one rule, and especially now, even starting the HypeFriend! community, that's what it's about. Because, you know, my favorite Ahsoka line is, ‘In my life, when you find people who need your help, you help them no matter what.’ I guess it's just who I am, and I so badly want to be a real life version of Ahsoka. So my mission is just to help others. And I think in my own way, I can help others by building community and connection wherever I go.
Fashion and Fandom: you definitely have done that. Thank you so much. Ashley, and congratulations!
If you’re planning on attending the 11th annual show, wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10am PT — and attendees may begin to line up earlier, but Her Universe does not endorse or manage any unofficial lines prior to that time. Wristband distribution will take place at the Seaport Ballroom Foyer of the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Doors open at 5pm unless otherwise noted, and attendees will be admitted in groups. When receiving wristbands, audience members will be told their group and exact return time for seating. The show will begin promptly at 6pm PT and last approximately two hours. Late arrivals, even with wristbands, may not be accommodated.
The event is open to all, badges are not required.
Stay tuned to Fashion and Fandom for more information on the 11th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show. Don’t forget to follow Her Universe on social media (@heruniverse on IG, X, Facebook and @officialheruniverse on TikTok) and use the hashtag #HerUniverseFashionShow for special behind-the-scenes event content.
Will you be attending the 11th annual Her Universe Fashion Show? Do you plan to walk the runway during intermission? Do you have a favorite Her Universe Fashion Show memory? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!
Marena Bronson is an award-winning journalist, a life-long nerd, and the Editor-in-Chief of Fashion and Fandom. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
