Galactic Style Guide – Aurebesh I

Welcome back to Aurebesh Month and our first of two installments of the Galactic Style Guide (where we break down the ‘Star Wars aesthetic’ in order to help you create a more authentic ‘outer persona’) taking a look at something that’s become really popular among the Batuu-bounding community in recent years: using in-universe Galactic Basic lettering—the Aurebesh—on kit items.

I see folks incorporate Aurebesh words into their clothing so often, it inspired me to do some digging and see how many examples I could find from the various visual media sources.
The first instances I found are all a certain segment of the galactic populace that I don’t think I’ve ever seen re-created before, but which would make for an excellent living history impression:

I was a little disappointed that these guys are just wearing yellow/orange jumpsuits, and that there wasn’t a little more consistency between them and the more interesting prisoner uniform of the Imperial Remnant in 12 ABY (Jedi Outcast):

And speaking of Jedi Outcast…

Okay, I lied. This is from Jedi Academy, and is worn by the ‘Elder’ NPC, which I’m not even sure was in the final game. Anyway, if you look closely, you’ll see his outfit says ‘CREW’ with a number on the chest. Note that this doesn’t identify his position within the crew, just that he is a member of the crew—much like a club’s bouncer having ‘SECURITY’ on his back.

Let’s see, what else did I dig up? Two background sabacc spectators (at the game that saw Lando Calrissian take control of Cloud City) have Aurebesh on their upper sleeves and backs: “-hise”, “novash”, and “mom” (is that the Rocketeer on a biker jacket?)

But beyond those three examples, I’ve been unable to find ANY examples of Aurebesh on clothing from Episodes I-VI or EU sources. By comparison, just thumbing through the post-2015 Character Encyclopedia, I found at least four examples all from ‘Episode 7’ alone, supporting my theory that this trend is an entirely post-Disney contrivance.

As we’ll see in next month’s installment, technology labels are a common usage category, so I can accept instructions on a life vest, but the critter on the left’s suit spells out ‘GLD landing officer’, which feels like something that would never happen in the classic EU…the GFFA has always been a setting in which characters’ specific ranks or positions are always indicated with insignia, not words.
While many Batuu bounders may follow the post-Disney aesthetic and choose to label themselves (and all their accessories)…authentic characters in the Star Wars galaxy (and therefore, accurate GFFA reenactors) should not.
However, based on our EU examples, I think that one possible galactic subculture where Aurebesh on clothing might be appropriate would be the in-universe equivalent of motorcycle clubs: swoop gangs! I’m not talking about the larger criminal syndicates—’Black Sun’ on a jacket would just be tacky— but smaller groups like Nova Demons, Black Vulkars, or Dark Star Hellions would provide great opportunities for appropriate decoration.

ADDENDUM: when the subject of in-universe nametags comes up, the WA-7 waitress droid ‘FLO’ at Dex’s Diner was the only example I could find.

Are there any significant examples I’ve missed? Leave them in the comments so I can add them above, and then come discuss with us in the SWLH facebook community. See you next week for another Style Guide, and the conclusion of Aurebesh Month! Catch up on our first two entries here and here!

Researching, compiling, and writing this site takes a lot of time and energy. If you’ve enjoyed reading, have learned something from this post, or will use it as inspiration for a future costume, please consider supporting my work with a small donation below! Thank you!