For an Imperial piece of armor, the Grand Inquisitor’s has an awful lot of Pau’an styling.

There’s the peaked motif found in Pau’an dress, on everything: his pauldrons, neck collar, bracers, and leg plates. The high protective collar couldn’t be only a personal choice, it seems essential that their longer necks are protected. Then there’s the pinstriping on every surface of the armor, evocative of the traditional, ribbed Pau’an robes and of course, their skin.

For example here’s Tion Medon, a high ranking Pau’an official:

Could the Grand Inquisitor have been so partial to his species’ culture that he styled his armor after it? It wouldn’t seem like he spent much time on his home planet before being inducted into the Jedi Order. Even the Inquisitor’s Temple Guard armor wasn’t much like his later Imperial suit. Could he be affected by his past life more than he appears? That always made him a deep character for me; his cruel, efficient exterior but subversive and morally grey inclinations.

Maybe it was just the SW Rebels’ creative team trying to make him look distinctly Pau’an. Or, it may be like if someone grew up in Texas, they’d probably still be wearing lots of blue jeans even if they moved to another country. Either way, it’s an awesome suit of armor and nod to Utapau.