Star Wars fans were in for a treat when Royal Selangor announced the release of its Star Wars collection of pewter figurines. 

"Star Wars is a global phenomenon that everyone is interested in;  Star Wars is universal," says Chen Tien Yue, executive director of Royal Selangor, of the collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia.

Work on the collection started 2 years ago, as soon as Disney acquired the rights to Star Wars. It is serendipitious that both Royal Selangor and Disney showed interest in such a "universal" franchise, especially since both companies share many similarities throughout their respective hitatler_tatler_stories.

In fact, their similarities run all the way back to their founding roots – one in the vast mining fields of tin of Kuala Lumpur, and the other in the gold mines of California.

Princess Leia from the Royal Selangor x Star Wars pewter collection

 From humble mining roots to the world stage

It is no secret how Royal Selangor started its rich and shiny journey -- its founder Yong Koon came from China, drawn by the glint of tin. Mining was also how Walt Disney's family ended up in California, USA -- Disney's father moved the family from Canada in search of gold. 

Mining set the pace for both brands from the beginning and -- although Disney's family eventually had to turn to farming before Walt himself started his own production company -- both are today two of the most recognisable brands in the world. 

They've braved through the World Wars and continued pursuing their what they did best. They unearthed an unseen tenacity in the dustiest of times, that with a little polishing, ended up shining just as bright as any gold, but noticably stronger – just like pewter.

Coming together by one equally global name - Star Wars

Today, Royal Selangor and The Walt Disney Company continue to share similarities across the plains.

“There is a certainly an element of being in a very happy industry,” reflects Chen of both brands. “A lot of products that Royal Selangor sell, people buy as gifts or to commemorate a nice occasion. Disney is in the entertainment industry -- they bring joy to people’s lives. ” 

Both companies have also gone through the tests of time and emerged strong in their respective industries. Chen credits it all to strong, unperturbed focus. “We have always been very focused as a company,” he shares. “From 130 years ago we’re still working with the same material – we’re still working with pewter.”

He observes the same of The Walt Disney Company: “They have themeparks and movies and they do licensing. They haven’t expanded in many other ways but they’ve just added more to these categories. They’ve always stayed in entertainment.”

With the Star Wars collaboration, two giant brands are coming together by one universally loved movie franchise. There isn't a more befitting way -- Disney and Royal Selangor may have hailed from different parts of the globe but their journey of entrepreneurship and tenacity aren't all that different, after all.

 

View the Royal Selangor Star Wars pewter collection at any Royal Selangor retail store, authorised dealers and online at www.starwars.royalselangor.com. 

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