There's a lot of money to be made in Star Wars products - and for as long as there's been officially-licensed merchandise, there's also been bootlegs. They're not as common here in the US, but I've always found independently-owned New Zealand dollar stores to be a treasure trove of off-brand saga toys.
For the most part, these bootlegs try to circumvent blatant copyright infringement by either featuring a well-known character under a different brand name (like the KSZ "Space Wars" Kylo Ren above) or by coupling Star Wars branding with a completely unrecognisable character - like everyone's favourite Force Awakens character, Jason (pictured above).
Sometimes the placement is a little more subtle, intended to lend legitimacy to an otherwise unfamiliar product - like the Peizhi "Star Pioneer" set above. Other times, manufacturers are far more brazen, combining the Star Wars logo with actual (if horribly disfigured or miscoloured) characters from the franchise - as with the "Jedi Force" pack above and the lightsaber-wielding Ackbar below.
And then, every once in a while, you'll see some Star Wars imagery on a product that defies all logic - like the backpack above. I mean, we all remember the N-1 Naboo Starfighter being Spiderman's preferred mode of transport, right?
Have you come across any interesting Star Wars bootlegs in your local stores? If you have, be sure to share them with us via Facebook or Twitter, or by sending an email to relicsoftheforce@gmail.com.
And then, every once in a while, you'll see some Star Wars imagery on a product that defies all logic - like the backpack above. I mean, we all remember the N-1 Naboo Starfighter being Spiderman's preferred mode of transport, right?
Have you come across any interesting Star Wars bootlegs in your local stores? If you have, be sure to share them with us via Facebook or Twitter, or by sending an email to relicsoftheforce@gmail.com.
