Kenner used a vinyl cape for the original 1978 Jawa action figure.
The Jawa was one of the first Star Wars figures released in the United States, alongside characters such as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Chewbacca. Its small size made the figure noticeably shorter than most figures in the range, but its accessory became especially important to collectors.
Kenner later changed the Jawa’s cape from vinyl to cloth. The cloth version was closer to the Jawa’s appearance in the film and helped the toy look less like it was wearing a stiff, oversized garment. Collectors commonly distinguish the early vinyl-caped Jawa from the later cloth-caped release.
This change is sometimes confused with a completely different figure variation, but both versions represent the same character and basic toy design. The vinyl-caped example is generally regarded as the earlier and more distinctive release.