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Anime cynics have often argued that the medium exists solely for merchandising. While there’s an argument to be made there, especially with certain franchises like Pokémon shamelessly monetizing every aspect of their brand, anime is no different from any other art form. Art can’t exist without funding.
Aesthetics are central to any successful animated story, so fashion tie-ins are a no-brainer. While some fans might see shows partnering with clothing and makeup brands as selling out, most see it as an opportunity to get their hands on exclusive merch. The anime merch market continues to thrive, and countless companies have taken part in that, at times transforming anime into something that even a closet otaku could wear to work.
10 SKECHERS D’Lites X One Piece
Frankly, SKECHERS doesn’t strike most people as a fashionable brand. Known for boasting comfort over style, SKECHERS shoes are most often warm by older women and young children. Of course, that doesn’t mean SKECHERS won’t snag a profitable marketing opportunity when it presents itself.
In 2018, SKECHERS released a limited edition line of its D’Lites shoes, each inspired by a different One Piece character. Characters featured included Luffy, Chopper, Sanji, Zoro, Law, and Doflamingo, and each shoe bore each pirate’s specific symbol on its tongue. The collaboration was so successful that the company launched a second set of shoes in 2019, adding even more characters and a chunkier shoe to the lineup.
9 Coach X Michael B. Jordan
Turns out Michael B. Jordan is a devout otaku. When the actor signed on to collaborate with Coach and Viz Media on a capsule collection, he promptly centered the collab on his love for Naruto and homegrown streetwear. The ready-to-wear collection included everything from parkas to backpacks to sneaker boots.
But perhaps what made the collection so successful is its relative subtlety: anime fans immediately recognize emblems reminiscent of Naruto characters and their eyes especially, but outsiders might only see a stylish piece of clothing. Coach isn’t easily affordable, but anyone kitted out in this gear would certainly look especially suave while doing the Naruto run.
8 Sanrio Has Collaborated With Everyone, Including Dr. Martens
An entire novel could be written about the various fashion collaborations Sanrio has taken part in over the decades. Though Sanrio began in 1960 primarily as a company that produced stationery products, over the years, Hello Kitty’s empire has grown, branching into everything from fashion to animatronics to fast food.
Recently, Sanrio collaborated with another brand with an interesting history. Founded by a German war doctor who was tired of his aching feet, Dr. Martens was popularized as a British shoe company that specialized in making solid, practical boots for laborers. Over time, they evolved into an iconic symbol of punk and alternative fashion. The latest collaboration between Sanrio and Dr. Martens is two worlds colliding in the best of ways.
7 Adidas Originals X Dragon Ball Z
For a franchise that’s decades old and has never seen a major redesign amid its reboots, Dragon Ball fans show no sign of going anywhere. Given how formative the manga and subsequent adaptations have been in shaping the entire anime industry, that legacy seems unlikely to change, and Dragon Ball is a guaranteed moneymaker.
In 2018, Adidas produced seven limited-edition Dragon Ball Z tennis shoes. The shoes were released on a staggered schedule, with each pair representing one side of a battle. First came Son Goku vs. Frieza, then Son Gohan vs. Cell, and finally Vegeta vs. Majin Buu. Adidas used different shoe designs to represent each character, resulting in a series of kicks that ran the range of all Adidas had to offer.
6 UNIQLO UT X Shonen Jump
In Japan, UNIQLO is reliable and omnipresent, the perfect place to stop when one needs pajamas or a work blouse in a hurry. But just because UNIQLO is accessible doesn’t mean it lacks style. On the contrary, the chain is well known for its affordable collaborations with both global companies and individual artists.
The popular manga anthology magazine Shonen Jump has collaborated with UNIQLO UT many times over the past two decades, promoting One Piece in particular. When the magazine celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018, the store released shirt designs celebrating a wide variety of Shonen Jump titles: Hajime no Ippo, Fairy Tail, The Seven Deadly Sins, Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Shota no Sushi, and Attack on Titan. At the time of this writing, fans can buy UT shirts inspired by Jujutsu Kaisen.
5 Sailor Moon X Colourpop
Given the rise of nostalgic makeup collaborations in recent years thanks primarily to social media promotion, Sailor Moon X Colourpop may seem like just one among dozens of similar partnerships. And yet Sailor Moon X Colourpop started a kerfuffle. When the collection dropped on February 20th, 2020, it sold out within hours and resellers had a field day in the aftermath.
The collection included an eyeshadow palette with colors named after characters and symbols from the anime, a series of lip glosses, blushes, and glitter gel. While initially hard to purchase, the collaboration proved profitable enough to restock and can now be found at Ulta.
4 Slam Dunk X Air Jordans
An oldie but a goodie, Slam Dunk remains at the forefront when otaku recall the greatest sports anime of all time. And of course, when fans think of basketball, fans think of Nike and Air Jordans especially.
In 2014, Nike released a limited edition series of kicks inspired by the bestselling manga, first in Asian stores and then globally. The collection included two pairs of shoes, Slam Dunk Air Jordan VIs and Jordan Super.Fly 3s featuring players’ silhouettes, as well as a pair of tees and a baseball cap. These days, new Slam Dunk Air Jordans sell for nearly $500.
3 Gucci x Hirohiko Araki
Gucci and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure have a certain degree of overkill in common. Both gauche at times but often unforgettable when it comes to memorable design, perhaps it isn’t surprising that these two powerhouses met and merged to create a spectacular moment.
Gucci X Hirohiko Araki X Spur was more of an exhibition than an actual fashion collaboration. When the Gucci store reopened in Shibuya in 2011, the exhibit celebrated the brand’s 90th anniversary in conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of Hirohiko Araki by producing a short graphic novel, Rohan Kishibe Goes to Gucci. Gucci goods featured in the exhibit were available for purchase. If only Gucci would produce recreations of Irene’s garb.
2 Anna Sui x 7Manga
Josei manga has its fair share of well-deserving classics that, at times, feel too stylish to be allowed. Mangaka like Ai Yazawa and Akiko Higashimura have successfully incorporated the fashion industry into storylines. Their manga often applaud fashion even as they criticize the harm the industry can cause, both on a global and personal scale.
In 2015, Anna Sui collaborated with multiple manga publishers to produce Anna Sui X 7 Manga. The lineup featured in this collaboration is truly impressive: The Rose of Versailles, Urusei Yatsura, Unico, Princess Knight, Princess Jellyfish, Paradise Kiss, and Patalliro. The collection was only available in pop-up stores in Japan, and included everything from leather wallets to canvas totes.
1 SuperGroupies Offers Subtle Otaku Fashion
It seems unfair to single out any single Super Groupies collection as iconic when so many of them are. The Japanese online retailer is an otaku treasure trove, a boutique that specializes in creating collections that are anime-inspired but subtle enough to wear at the office. Known for its beautiful watches and accessories, Super Groupies usually sells out of its collections long before US fans can get their paws on them.
Super Groupies has collaborated with Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer, Metal Gear Solid, Banana Fish, Natsume’s Book of Friends, Persona 5, Nier, and even Magic: The Gathering. Each collaboration is a veritable treat for the eyes.
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