If you’re stoked to see the resurgence of the classic 1980’s Surf Style in Stranger Things Season 4 — then we are right there with you!
Check out our Behind The Scenes interview — with ST4’s incredibly talented Costume Designer, Amy Parris — and Gecko Hawaii’s ‘Nostalgia Wizard’ and CMO, Mark Schwartz — as they discuss everything that a retro-style, 1980’s kid craves, why certain fashion & costuming choices were made — and trade secrets on how to re-create a style and era that looks & feels authentic enough to unleash a person’s “inner nostalgia.”
Mark Schwartz
Everyone at Gecko was SO excited for the opportunity to work with you & Stranger Things — but, I have to admit… I seriously geeked out… because for years, I’ve been a Stranger Things SUPER FAN! How excited are you about ST4?
Amy Parris
I am so excited for Season Four!
Knowing how big the season was gonna be was a bit daunting, but it was really exciting coming back to something I had done previously, and to have that familiarity with the actors and the show runners. The Duffer brothers are just so great to work with. I feel like the more we work together, the quicker the shorthand can be — where we can kind of throw certain ideas to each other. Working together for awhile now, I’ve started to instinctually know what they're gonna like, or not like, or what might throw them off — and the same goes for the actors.
(Below: Actor @AlexWagenman In a fitting for Stranger Things 4 wearing an original 1980's Gecko Grid Tee.)
Shirt: 1980's "Gecko Grid" A Re-Issue was just released!)
Mark Schwartz
When it comes to shows/movies, I probably pay more attention to the costumes than the average viewer, especially shows with“retro fashion.” — But, to me personally, I thought the costuming was AWESOME in the first two seasons, but I felt that ST3 really took it to the next level, and the costumes not only gave the viewer a deeper subtext to the character— without exposition — but the costumes almost felt like characters themselves. For example, when I saw Dusty's Camp Nowhere hat… I had to have it ASAP. So, I thought the execution was great!
Amy Parris
Thank you for saying that and for noticing!
Mark Schwartz
I mean, I think everybody noticed. (Laugh)
Amy Parris
I was so excited when I was first hired — and then I went from excitement to, like, being so terrified because the designers of the first two seasons did such a brilliant job! Right? I always keep saying that they set up this beautiful blueprint for me to follow for who these characters are.
And I'm also lucky to have had a great team behind me, where we can delve deep into this character as a person and really figure out who they are — then show that through the clothes.
So the initial beginning of season three, yes exciting! Magic, Yes! But then terrifying <laugh> and it kind of took that whole season for me to get over being scared. And then once I did it, the reviews came out and people were excited and telling me things like, ‘I remember wearing that! You guys did such a good job!’
I think seeing the happy reception to it all was the relief I needed. So, going into season four, it was even more magical because I was like, okay, I've done it. I can do it. I'm excited to do more, make it better, make it even more unique and more authentic. So, it went from being excited, to terrified <laugh> to relief, to the most magical thing it could be.
(Below: Gecko Hawaii Fitting Photos From Stranger Things 4 Shirt: Mint Tie Dye Wall Pattern.)
Mark Schwartz
(Laugh) I really do feel that Stranger Things has had a major impact on the 1980’s and 90’s fashion vibe lately. Have you noticed that any of the styles you’ve re-introduced into pop-culture — during season 3 — have made their way into the real world?
Amy Parris
I do think I've noticed it. Fashion is cyclical, as you know, and styles repeat themselves. For a while it was kind of predicted that every 20 years things would come back around. I do think that is the timeline, but I also think that now — since we’re all connected with the internet and Instagram — that we're going to find styles repeating themselves more than just every 20 years.
For example, I was just at Target yesterday, when I suddenly paused and looked up at a mannequin wearing a very 1980’s, “Eleven” style pant. So, I do see there are things which feel very eighties — and it’s so much fun to bring that back. I also think that because we're all so connected now, that we're being influenced by each other and styles throughout the ages and different regions. Style is no longer just specific to where we're living anymore, you know? It is international. It's pretty cool.
Mark Schwartz
That’s awesome! It’s totally true! I remember that “Every 20 years of style” rule. But now, within that, there are these “micro styles” and interesting combinations of things, you know? Like wearing an old vintage tee, but with a brand new pair of Levi's 501’s.
Amy Parris
Which are also classic, right? Those are gonna be around forever. <laugh>.
Mark Schwartz
Totally! It’s funny, because when Gecko was originally producing apparel back in the mid 1980’s — everything was super neon. But, as fashion changed, and as the 1990’s rolled in, much like the radio playing the same song, over and over — neon was “overplayed.” What was “cool” shifted — first to more primary colors, then earth tones. But, when we relaunched in 2019, we had that unique ability to look back at 25 years of style and apparel — and in our relaunch, we wanted to recapture that 80’s magic and go back to what originally worked. The stuff that people loved so much about Gecko in the first place. They remember the years of bright colors, textures, and the nostalgia that comes with that.
What's your process for finding the perfect costume fit for a character? Is it thrifting? Is it hunting online?
Amy Parris
Once I have an overview of what the season is, then it's going into the script, reading the words and considering what may — or may not — happen. After the script-read, I think about it as a whole season.
If we're looking for specific items, I really do like to go out into the world and shop some of the vintage vendors that we have. There are some great wholesale vintage vendors in Los Angeles. So, I often start there, doing a big sweep and grabbing a bunch of stuff — and then whittle it down to specifics at smaller vintage stores. If I'm not finding something particular that I'm looking for, I'll often start online with sites similar to Etsy, or eBay, or visit very specific vendors that have websites.
It's really a mix — and it’s a team effort. I don't do it alone. I have a wonderful team that helps me and we look everywhere — far and wide, whether it's a local vendor, or international shipping from overseas.
Mark Schwartz
Speaking of your team…
… we had actually received emails from a member of your team to trying to get some Gecko Hawaii gear quickly that she could wear it to a music festival. (Laughs)
Amy Parris
She did send me a picture! I think they were going to… maybe a Phish concert? (Laugh) I think it definitely worked for wherever they were! She's younger, so for her, she doesn't really remember Gecko the way we do. It was like a new excitement for her to be able to show off Gecko in a crowd. And I'm sure she got some great comments. <laugh>
Mark Schwartz
That's awesome! Something that Gecko Fam Fans may not yet be aware of, is that we collaborated with you on a Splatter tee for one of the new Stranger Things characters in Season 4. You had sent us an amazing, original, vintage, 1980’s eighties mint tee (such a great 1980’s mint by the way), and we had Dennis — our original Splatter artist from the 1980’s — splatter it. He even used original, leftover splatter paint THAT HE STILL HAD from back then! It was AWESOME! However, as far as I know, that Splatter tee didn't end up making it into ST4… which is totally, totally fine (laughing) that happens. But, what did you have in mind for it originally? Or, why didn't it work for the scene?
(Below: Actor @AlexWagenman In a fitting for Stranger Things 4 wearing an original Mint Splatter collaboration.)
Amy Parris
Yeah, it was a perfect shirt for the scene. And, I can say this to you now — I don't wanna give away any spoilers, however, the episode will be out soon, so by the time people are reading this, it will be out — and what I can say is that it was perfect for the scene. The character was wearing it in a roller rink. Knowing that the lights in the roller rink would have blacklight, I knew the mint would pop and the splatter pattern would really glow — and it would be really, really cool to see. It was a perfect combination — especially with the Gecko bright mint pant…
However, we also happened to find another vintage mint tee — and I think when you see the episode (I think it's in episode two), you'll see why the other shirt ended up winning out over the splatter shirt. That splatter shirt was wonderful, and I would've used it had we not found this other vintage shirt. When you see the graphic on it, you’ll see why we went the other direction. If I can make one vintage piece work, I prefer that over anything new.
Mark Schwartz
I know the “Gecko Fam Fans” would go CRAZY to get their hands on the “one-of-a-kind” mint splatter tee that was almost in Stranger Things!
Amy Parris
Well… they can look for it for next season…. I bet it'll be in season five.
Mark Schwartz
OMG. That would be amazing!
Mark Schwartz
Out of curiosity, did you ever end up distressing any Gecko for scenes? If so, what tricks can you give the “Gecko Fam” — or any retro vintage wearers?
Amy Parris
We actually didn't end up distressing any of the Gecko Hawaii clothing, because it fits so well in the California storyline, which is more bright, happy and fashion forward. The idea was maybe the “kids” in California are buying their clothes at a mall — and they're buying more often than someone in Hawkins. Teenagers in the eighties were going to the mall, buying new clothes and showing them off at school. I wanted it to keep the integrity of fresh new clothes that somebody recently shopped for, and since Gecko was a little bit more fashion forward, we kept it nice, slick and fresh.
Mark Schwartz
Nice! It makes perfect sense. Next time we’ll send you some more of the “super crisp” original, vintage, 1980’s Gecko Hawaii apparel. We’ve recently found some really cool stuff from back then!
Amy Parris
Oh, that's so awesome. And you have, like, crates of archive stuff?
Mark Schwartz
Yeah! So, originally, Gecko was founded by Vik Watumull and Derek Sciaqua. Vik created it and Derek was responsible for bringing it to the Mainland. Derek had boxes and boxes of original apparel he had saved over the course of 25 years. I mean, literally everything. Unfortunately, he stored it on a houseboat… and in 2012, the houseboat sprung a leak and sunk to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Not everything is gone though! We still have a lot, plus it's been my job to actually go online — to places like eBay, etc — and find “long lost designs” that are missing from our “Gecko Vault,” so that we can reproduce it. Then we recreate them using the original retro printing process, retro machines, and even reach out to the original artists to help remake the colors and textures the same way they were back in the 1980’s.
Amy Parris
And in the future you’ll store it in safe place. (Laughing)
That’s so cool. It's really a fun thing that Gecko uses the original processes! For example, the splatter pattern. You did it the way you did it back then, which is why it still looks so good! And having that puffy screen printing — that’s the stuff that’s going to make people flash back to that time. Having something tactile like that is so helpful, because they're going to remember when they originally got that shirt, you know, like, if it was gifted on Christmas from their grandma. It’s going to bring back a lot of memories for a lot of people.
Mark Schwartz
Absolutely. The bright colors, the textures, all of that is there — it’s exactly what we are trying to recreate. Not just apparel, but memories, and nostalgia. Paying attention to the detail — and to the vintage, original is extremely important.
Amy Parris
Yes! (Stranger Things) is so true to the period. All the pieces were either really vintage, or remade with vintage fabric — or, you know, as close to the real thing as they could be. All of our departments, whether it’s sound, production, designing, hair, make up — everything is so true to the period. I couldn't cheat and I wouldn't want to, you know, everything's so real.
Mark Schwartz
That awesome. I'd imagine it really is a dream to bring that era back to life.
Amy Parris
Yes! It really transports you. It really does feel like you're a time traveler. (Laughs) I know that's not real. I know you can't teleport, but it feels like the closest thing to teleportation. The whole set was so authentic and so real. I swear, like, (In ST3) you would walk onto set after getting, 300 to 400 background actors dressed… and the mall has authentic, real pattern, eighties carpet — even all the props in the sets are real! You could pick up a book and flip through the pages. It's that real! You could go walk into Sam Goody and there are records from the time there!
So, to have it be so authentic and then seeing the people that you've dressed that have gone through all those other processes… it makes you feel like a time traveler, because you couldn't get any closer to being there in the eighties.
Mark Schwartz
And I mean, I think that a layer where Gecko Hawaii and Stranger Things really connect.
Amy Parris
Thank you so much. You guys were so helpful and so collaborative to work with and I hope we can do it again, because It was really fun. And thank you for being so open to doing stuff so quickly. A TV schedule is not easy and you didn't seem so daunted — at least not to me. Maybe you were saying something else on the other end of the screen, but you were like, ‘we could make it work’ (laugh), so thank you.
Mark Schwartz
Are you kidding? We would make it work, you know, in a heartbeat! This is major! We had a blast… and… it's just such a special show — not only to us, but to so many people. And you and your team were just absolutely amazing to work with. Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of all of this. We are BEYOND EXCITED for Season 4 of Stranger Things!
All Photos Courtesy of Amy Parris
