a cinematic creature returns

Eastpak’s latest instalment in its Movie Club series taps into one of the most beloved and unruly cult classics of the ’80s: Gremlins. Released in 1984, the film’s blend of dark comedy, creature chaos, and strangely heartfelt charm turned Gizmo, Stripe, and their gremlin brood into cultural icons. Forty years later, Eastpak revisits that mythology not by recreating movie props, but by infusing its most recognizable silhouettes with the film’s spirited duality: the adorable and the anarchic.

In collaboration with Warner Bros., the brand presents a capsule that hinges on choice—light or dark, cute or wicked, nostalgia or nocturnal mischief. It’s a collection that understands the original film’s central tension: Gizmo may be sweet, but a single misstep unleashes creatures that thrive on rule-breaking. Eastpak cleverly channels that narrative into its design, producing bags that feel playful, cinematic, and undeniably urban.

gizmo

The capsule centers on two tones—Gizmo’s soft warmth and Stripe’s punkish menace. Eastpak doesn’t simply print characters atop existing products; instead, the design language extends through textures, colors, materials, and detailing that evoke the two protagonists.

Gizmo’s treatment leans into tactile softness: faux-fur panels, warm brown-and-cream palettes, rounded silhouettes, and gentle contrast stitching that mimic the Mogwai’s expressive fluffiness. These pieces echo a kind of wearable comfort, the bag equivalent of a movie character you want to protect at all costs. They’re instantly nostalgic without feeling costume-like, balancing whimsy with the brand’s performance-driven build.

By contrast, the Stripe pieces channel the gremlin leader’s destructive charisma. Expect blacked-out bases, neon acid splashes, razor-edge patterning, and chaotic graphic overlays that feel lifted from a midnight chase scene through Kingston Falls. The textures are more synthetic, tougher, and more angular—mirroring the gremlins’ rebellious streak. The result is a two-lane identity within a single collection: cute or chaotic, plush or punk, rule-abiding or rule-breaking.

icon

Eastpak’s strategy revolves around evolving its core silhouettes rather than inventing entirely new ones. The Padded Pak’r, the Springer waist bag, the Orbit mini, the Tranverz luggage, and the iconic crossbody formats all reappear—only now enhanced with Gremlins-specific graphics, trims, and character badges.

For the Gizmo line, the Padded Pak’r features fur-inspired textures and soft sculpting along the front panel, creating a bag that almost resembles the Mogwai’s face without crossing into novelty gimmick territory. Lining patterns include subtle illustrations of Gizmo’s expressions and tiny film-inspired motifs.

Stripe’s editions, however, are built for the night. They feature high-shine vinyl overlays, jagged green striping, near-neon interior linings, and a more aggressive graphic identity. Some silhouettes even incorporate glow-in-the-dark elements—an intelligent nod to the film’s nocturnal chaos and the gremlins’ preference for darkness.

follow the rules—or don’t

The capsule would feel incomplete without the film’s infamous rulebook:
• Don’t expose them to bright light.
• Don’t get them wet.
• Never, ever feed them after midnight.

Eastpak integrates this lore subtly throughout the collection. Some bags carry embroidered rule patches, others hide them inside inner pockets like secret warnings. The duality of the rules functions as both storytelling device and stylistic flourish, reinforcing the playful tension that made Gremlins unforgettable.

Users can lean into the lore however they choose—some might gravitate toward the whimsical nostalgia of carrying a “well-behaved” Gizmo bag, while others find joy in channeling the gremlins’ iconic mischief. Eastpak has successfully translated narrative into object, letting wearers decide how much cinematic rebellion they want to carry.

flow

As with all Eastpak capsules, the collaboration never sacrifices utility for aesthetic. Behind the playful Gremlins façade lies the same rugged durability that defines the brand’s DNA. Reinforced stitching, water-resistant coatings, ergonomic padding, and multi-pocket organization maintain the bags’ functionality for commuters, students, and everyday city explorers.

It’s a collection that winks at childhood memories but is built for adult routines. The Gremlins imagery never overwhelms the product—it enhances it. The pieces feel like streetwear accessories rather than film memorabilia, allowing fans to celebrate the movie subtly or loudly depending on their chosen design.

This is where Eastpak excels: in elevating pop-culture storytelling into lifestyle utility, making the bags feel as relevant in 2025 as the film was in 1984.

the movie

Eastpak’s Movie Club series has quickly become one of the brand’s most engaging initiatives, pulling cinematic classics into the world of functional accessories. The Gremlins capsule might be its most character-driven yet, demonstrating how storytelling can coexist with material design without tipping into kitsch.

Movie Club collections thrive on reinterpretation. They take visual identities familiar to film fans and translate them through the lens of Eastpak’s practical silhouettes. The Gremlins collaboration continues this ethos, but with an added layer of playful tension—because Gremlins is, at its core, about things spinning out of control.

And here, that chaos is embraced. Not recklessly, but stylishly.

why

The resurgence of ’80s nostalgia remains a cultural throughline, but Gremlins occupies a specific niche within that resurgence. It’s lighthearted yet dark, cute yet villainous, wholesome yet wildly destructive. In a cultural landscape obsessed with duality and identity fluidity, Gremlins feels surprisingly contemporary.

Moreover, collaborations in 2025 lean heavily toward storytelling—and Gremlins offers an accessible, instantly recognizable narrative with strong visual cues. Eastpak’s timing is strategic: the film’s 40th anniversary cycle continues to renew interest; Warner Bros. has reinvigorated the IP; and fans across generations can connect with these characters.

By tapping into this energy, Eastpak positions the capsule as both collectible and wearable, ensuring longevity beyond seasonal hype.

impression

Ultimately, the Eastpak x Gremlins capsule is an invitation—to remember, to play, and perhaps to embrace just a little bit of chaos. Whether buyers lean toward Gizmo’s softness or Stripe’s rebellion, the collection offers them a role in the movie’s moral universe.

Follow the rules or tempt mischief. Either way, Eastpak makes sure you’re equipped.

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