The first time we watched A New Hope, it was hard not to notice the simple, flowing robes worn by so many characters.
From Uncle Owen on his moisture farm to the little Jawas peddling droids, this earthy, practical style seemed to be the go-to fashion on Tatooine. Even Luke Skywalker, with his tunic and belt, was dressed like a local—just missing the robe.
Fast forward to the Star Wars prequels, and this humble look became the official “uniform” of the Jedi Order.
But why did George Lucas decide that this everyday attire would represent the galaxy’s most powerful peacekeepers?
I’ve done some research and found not only the reasoning behind this choice but also a glimpse of what the Jedi almost looked like in the early concept art.
Without further ado…
The Concept Art of Obi-Wan in The Phantom Menace
When The Phantom Menace was in development, early concept art depicted Obi-Wan Kenobi in a drastically different outfit from the flowing robes we associate with Jedi today.
These initial designs leaned into a more “uniformed” look—structured, dark, and sleek, much like Luke Skywalker’s black attire in Return of the Jedi.
One particular piece of concept art showcased Obi-Wan during the opening scenes of the film.
This was the moment when Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan landed on the Trade Federation ship to negotiate, only to encounter the deadly droidekas.
Here is what it looks like
Why did George Lucas Shift From a Black Jedi Jumpsuit to a Jedi Robe?
One theory about why Jedi robes ended up resembling Tatooine attire comes from fans analyzing George Lucas’s approach to filmmaking.
A fan aptly points out, “Because George is an ideas guy. But only sort of. It took an entire team of other people to make the OG trilogy work.”
During the production of the prequels, Lucas operated with significantly more creative control.
The fan continues, “Consequently, the sets were being built before the script was finished, and all of the little details that get changed that take one of George’s ideas from neat, to, amazing, weren’t changed.”
This could explain some of the quirks in the prequels, such as Jedi robes looking like Tatooine desert clothing.
What was originally a disguise for Obi-Wan in A New Hope became an official uniform for the entire Jedi Order.
Similarly, other seemingly mundane props, like the blast helmet Han Solo had aboard the Millennium Falcon, became formalized as Jedi training equipment.
One fan insightfully notes, “George’s costume designers/Ralph McQuarrie designed the look for ANH. This is back when people could tell George different ideas or tell him ‘no.’”
During the creation of A New Hope, Lucas collaborated closely with legendary artists like Ralph McQuarrie, whose iconic concept art defined much of the Star Wars aesthetic.
These designs weren’t limited to just Jedi robes but extended to starships, droids, and even entire planets.
However, the fan continues, “Then when the prequels came around no one could tell George ‘no,’ and George just said ‘people know Obi-Wan and Yoda’s look, so we’ll just use that as shorthand for all Jedi.’”