Her Universe will remain a standalone operation within Hot Topic and continue to strike its own deals with retailers, including one currently in development with ThinkGeek, says Her Universe Founder Ashley Eckstein, who sold the company to Hot Topic last fall.

The first collections under Hot Topic ownership will be released starting in April, and include Star Wars and other licenses, says Eckstein.

Planned for May are collections from three designers selected from those that participated in the Her Universe Fashion Show at Comic-Con last July, says Eckstein. “We worked closely with the designers in developing the product and getting it approved by the licensors,” says Eckstein, who declined to identify the licensors involved. Germany-based E.M.P. Merchandising also has begun ordering Her Universe apparel with a goal of starting sales by mid-year, says Eckstein. E.M.P is owned by Sycamore Partners, which also is an investor in Hot Topic.