A Dash of Geeky Flair: An Interview With Lantern Pins
When you want to spruce up bags, hats, and jackets, enamel pins are the way to do it! Everywhere you look, the pin culture is thriving, providing artists with the opportunity to transform art into wearable art.
“It’s been really fun for me to see something I love become more mainstream. It makes for a lot more cool pins for me to buy!” said Jackie Rindlisbach, the Etsy shop owner of Lantern Pins, to Fashioned for the Geek. “I love them! I am a collector at heart, and I love that they are small—so I can have lots. I also love that I can show my geeky fashion with just a few touches and that I can switch them out to match my cosplays or my Disneybound outfits.”
Some of her most popular pins are inspired by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and have been recently featured on Fashionably Geek and Culturess.
“It has been OUT OF THIS WORLD!” she said when talking about the response she’s received from the fan community. “I can’t even begin to put it into words. I’ve always known that Star Wars fans are the best, but the response has been amazing.”
So amazing that she sold out of the “I Rebel” pins as soon as people started spreading the word. Thankfully, the pin was re-stocked days later. Not only that, but if you’re looking for a splash of color, the “I Rebel” pin now comes in pink.
If you’re new to the world of pin collecting, however, and you’re looking for a few tips, Jackie mentioned that she loves to wear them on her denim jacket, switching them out once a week for a different theme and look.
“I have also been rocking a few on my beanies lately, as well,” she said, moving on to explain that pins aren’t just for everyday wear. She also uses them in her cosplays, “I have a Punk Leia/Huttslayer cosplay I’ve been doing for about 2 years, so I have lots on that vest. I also did a cute Daisy Duck Disneybound with a pink letterman jacket, so I added all of my Daisy pins to that for a cute touch.”
Without a doubt, cute is what her Etsy shop specializes in because her selection of pumpkin pins are the definition of adorable, and they’re partly the reason why her online store is named Lantern Pins.
“My birthday is in October, so Jackie-lantern has been a nickname of mine for a long time,” she said, when talking about the inspiration behind the name.
What’s even more fascinating is that the pin-creating process seems just as fun as finding different ways to style them. After working on a design with either an artist or her husband, Jackie ends up sending that to a manufacturer. From there, the art gets transformed into the pins we've come to know and love.
Customers can also be pretty creative when it comes to styling and displaying their Lantern Pins, and Jackie proudly shares photos of her customers’ happy purchases on Instagram.
“I can’t wait to see everyone when I go to Star Wars Celebration Orlando in April,” she said, so if you're going to the popular Star Wars convention later this spring, make sure to wear your Rogue One inspired pins and follow Jackie’s personal Instagram and Twitter for future updates. She also encourages her customers and followers to share what they would like to see next by tweeting at Lantern Pins on Twitter.
Of course, we couldn't leave Jackie without asking what's coming next from her Etsy store! Fans of Hamilton, Twin Peaks, and There will be Blood rejoice because Jackie will be making inspired pins based on these popular titles. Upcoming pins also include her signature pumpkin pins in a variety of more colors.
Head on over to Etsy to visit her shop and add these geektastic pins to your collection today!
Johnamarie Macias is a geek fashion enthusiast from New York City with a passion for all things Star Wars. She is the owner of TheWookieeGunner.com and co-host on the Jedi News Network podcast dedicated to Star Wars and geek fashion, Galactic Fashion. Follow @BlueJaigEyes on Twitter and Instagram for her personal thoughts and other highlights. Also, follow @GalacticFashion on Twitter and @galacticfashiontwg on Instagram, where Johnamarie keeps fans and listeners informed with Star Wars fashion updates.