Footnotes

• In 1977 George Lucas released the first instalment of what was to become the saga of Anakin and Luke Skywalker, bringing to viewers many characters and concepts from the Dark Lords of the Sith, the Empire and The Force of the Jedi Knights.
  
  In the first Star Wars film released in 1977, Obi Wan Kenobi, known as Ben, was one of the last of the Jedi Knights able to use and feel "The Force" for the greater good.
  
  George Lucas's idea of the Jedi Knights and particularly Ben Kenobi, was not of knights in shining armour but defenders of the people in simple flowing clothing. Ralph McQuarrie was the design consultant and conceptual artist for the film and was pivotal in convincing 20th Century Fox to make the production. Armed with just the script, McQuarrie designed the look and feel that Lucas had envisioned.
  
  Using McQuarrie's conceptual drawings, John Mollo, the costume designer, produced the outfits for the multitude of aliens, droids, rebel and empire military personnel and of course the principal characters. John Mollo pursued the idea that Obi Wan Kenobi was to resemble a nomadic monk and survivor of the desert world of Tatooine, dressed in simple robes and hooded cloak and his costume was to reflect the peaceful stature of the Jedi Knights.
  
  Alec Guinness first appears on screen walking across the Tuskan desert wastelands wearing a brown wool cloak where he finds the unconscious Luke Skywalker and his droid R2D2. After the scene at Obi Wan's dwelling the cloak was used at Mos Eisley and on the Death Star where Obi Wan confronts Darth Vader in a Light Sabre duel to the death. Darth Vader defeats Obi Wan leaving nothing but Obi Wan's Light Sabre and cloak.
  
  The cloak was predominantly used in the first Star Wars film and later in The Empire Strikes Back where Obi Wan appears to Luke in the ice world of Hoth. The cloak has remained in the warehouse of Angels The Costumiers since the release of the film nearly 30 years ago.