This year in 2022 saw a wave of luxury fashion brands teaming up with Japanese anime and manga to bring limited edition collections. Anime otaku may remember Coach X Michael B Jordan X Naruto’s collaboration in 2019. In 2020, Longchamp, following in Coach’s footsteps, decided to collaborate with Pokemon. Then in 2021 there was the GUCCI X Doraemon collab.
These fashion labels have managed to capture the attention of an entirely new clientele thanks to these visually striking collaborations that focus on favorite anime and manga characters.
In early 2021, Spanish luxury house Loewe launched a collection inspired by the anime My Neighbor Totoro. In January 2022, Loewe released another collection inspired by the anime Spirited Away. Upcoming collaborations and recently released collaborations we’re keeping an eye on include Maje X Sailor Moon, Vans X JoJo, and more. Read on to see my top picks from each collection and find out which anime-inspired collections will be launching in the coming months.
Maje X Sailor Moon Capsule Collection – Launch Date April 26, 2022
Fans of the Sailor Moon anime are counting down the days to the launch of Maje’s Spring/Summer collection. Maje’s partnership with Sailor Moon’s main focus is on the heroine, Usagi Tsukino. Due to its popularity in the 90s, Sailor Moon evokes a sense of nostalgia among female millennials. Sailor Moon along with Dragon Ball Z played a huge role in the childhood of every anime fan.
The collection embodies “girl power” and femininity by expressing the themes of love and friendship featured in the show. The collection is largely inspired by the style of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon and the color palette will consist of bold pinks, yellows and blues. It will feature casual ready-to-wear pieces and trendy accessories.
VANS X JOJO – Available now!
Vans has teamed up with anime legend JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure on a Golden Wind-inspired capsule collection that celebrates Giorno Giovanna and Bruno Bucciarati. The Vans Era Pro design is basically wrapped in bright fuchsia, there are embroidered gold wings on the heel cup, decorative anime-inspired eye plugs, a love heart cut out and trimmed in gold on the tongue, and features a clean white sole that features striking features. the JoJo logo in black.
The Vans Slip-on is transformed into a black-on-white upper with metallic gold trims, a tab on the side of the midsole and a white sole. It also features a prominent zippered front foot pocket, which shows quotes from the characters.
Both pairs have anime-drawn insoles with images of Giorno Giovanna or Bruno Bucciarati, depending on the pair you chose. The JoJo shoes come in an anime-style box inspired by JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and with Italian flair.
Get your pair now Bandai Fashion Collection†
PS Sneakerwolf X ASICS ‘Anarchy in the Edo Period’ is getting a wider release soon!
Sandy Liang X Vans X Anime
It’s worth noting that New York-based fashion designer Sandy Liang has collaborated with Vans twice before, but in their third and most recent collaboration, they launched a collection of menswear, womenswear, apparel and sneakers that drew heavily on anime nostalgia from the era. the 90’s.
The collection designs feature images with well-known large anime eyes, butterflies and flowers with Saturn-like rings. Fans can’t wait to see if it’s coming another collaboration on the horizon between Sandy Liang and Vans.
UNIQLO UT X Mobile Suit Gundam – Available Now!
Not exactly high fashion but in high demand, UNIQLO UT’s t-shirts now feature images from the classic Mobile Suit Gundam series. The four-part collection features designs from Mobile Suit Gundam’s RX-78-2 Gundam, character designs (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED), illustrations from the Unicorn Gundam, and visuals from the latest Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway film.
Visuals are printed on white, black and wine t-shirts, sporty quotes, model info and Mafty badge embroidery.
Top picks include the Freedom Gundam t-shirt with X10ADIECI label on the front and a colored outline on the back, along with the unforgettable quote, “But what are we really fighting for? Come with us, Athrun. Let’s go!” looking for the answer. Together.”
The Mobile Suit Gundam X UNIQLO UT Collection is now available on their website†
Loewe X Studio Ghibli – January 2022
In January 2022, Loewe released the Loewe X Studio Ghibli collaboration to honor the creative director (Jonathon Anderson)’s admiration for Studio Ghibli’s unique, surreal animation style.
The Maison released remarkable collections inspired by the award-winning films My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Spirited Away (2001). The capsule collection includes signature bags, ready-to-wear and accessories with cute motifs from recognizable characters from Totoro to the Soot Sprites, making Loewe’s best-selling collaboration an escape into the phantasmagoric world of Studio Ghibli.
My Neighbor Totoro collection included whimsical wallets, handbags, and shirts featuring beloved Totoro, forest spirit animals, and other characters from the Hayao Miyazaki movie.
Loewe’s creative director Jonathan Anderson noted that his love for the film and the nostalgia it evoked in him inspired the collection’s development:
“There is a natural desire for heartwarming feelings right now. When I think of a movie that gives me that kind of comfort, speaking as directly to a child as it does to an adult, that movie is My Neighbor Totoro. The story of Mei and Satsuki’s friendship with the magical Totoro and his cohorts, the mischievous dust bunnies, who cannot be seen by adults but only by the children who love them, is truly moving. It is a traditional product in the form of an animation film.”
This year 2022, the Spanish luxury house teamed up again with Studio Ghibli for a Spirited Away collection, which debuted four months ago. The Spirited Away collection includes handbags, shirts and accessories featuring Chihiro, No-face and other ghosts and spirits from the film.
GUCCI X Doraemon – Chinese New Year 2021
As part of Gucci’s campaign for Chinese New Year 2021, the Italian fashion house released a capsule collection inspired by the anime Doraemon last January, just before the Lunar New Year 2021.
Doraemon is a popular Japanese anime and manga about a traveling blue robot cat from the 22nd Century with the same name as the series. Doraemon was a hit in the 1960s and early 2000s.
The collection features Gucci’s signature classic GG monogram and graphics featuring the adorable robot cat in various poses – sleeping, eating and just having fun, on a range of ready-to-wear, including shoes and accessories.
To celebrate the year of the ox, Doraemon is disguised with two small ox-like horns. The collection features over 50 items featuring Doraemon, including a variety of coats, jackets, sweatpants and shorts.
At the same time, Gucci debuted a virtual fashion line on Pokemon Go with The North Face, and players’ avatars could wear t-shirts, hats, and backpacks.
Limited-edition collections allow low-risk luxury brands like Loewe and Gucci to experiment with their products and spark interest in a whole new group of customers: the anime community.
There is a shift as luxury brands enter the market to appeal to young people (Gen Z and Millennials). It has not escaped their notice that they have niche interests such as anime and manga and that they are interested in fashion brands that collaborate with anime.
Longchamp X Pokemon – October 2020
In October 2020, Longchamp teamed up with the anime Pokemon for a merry collection. Pikachu with its signature yellow, red and black colors can be seen on the iconic Le Pliage range and silhouettes from backpacks to crossbody bags. There’s also a line of black and white and monogrammed leather pieces that sparkle with Pikachu’s electric spirit.
Coach X Michael B Jordan X Naruto, 2019-2022 (Upcoming Release)
Michael B Jordan, Coach’s global ambassador, released his first anime collaboration in 2019. It was no surprise to his friends that he chose his favorite anime Naruto. The story of the anime revolves around Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who wants to become the Hokage – the strongest ninja in his village.
Anime otaku and diehard Naruto fans will easily recognize motifs inspired by the anime, such as Sharingan and Sennin eyes. The collection, which also features Naruto, Sasuke and Itachi motifs, consists of unisex streetwear, ready-to-wear parkas, pullovers, t-shirts, shoes and bags. The clothes are comfortable and practical – exactly what a ninja’s wardrobe should be.
Jordan is back on his latest collaboration with Naruto. Fans are eagerly awaiting a new sneaker design he teased about on his Twitter account. You can read more about the Jordan x Naruto sneakers from Jumpman in the link.
Psycho-Pass X Platinum Aura – April 25, 2022
Again, not high fashion but what is eagerly anticipated is this latest collaboration. Platinum AuraThe current slogan of “Fun to Wear” embraces the idea that having anime items in everyday life makes life more fun, and will release a new collection inspired by the anime Psycho-Pass 3.
The collection will contain 7 items, including a computer case, a drawstring set with a cool design featuring a dominator motif, an organization name and an anime character. The collection will be released on the World Online Store on April 25, 2022.
Sketchers X One Piece
While global footwear and apparel company Sketchers may not precisely be ‘high fashion’ their collaboration with Toei Animation is worth mentioning. The partnership was first formed in 2018 and has been repeated three times. The first two collections only featured One Piece sneakers, but the third and fourth collections added clothing released exclusively in Southeast Asia.
Each sneaker featured a prominent color in the design that closely resembles one of the characters from the anime. For example, when you picture Luffy, you probably picture the color red. It was no surprise that Luffy’s sneakers had a red and white design.
I hope this article inspired my fellow otaku to buy anime merchandise that will make you look “anime geek chic.”
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