Anime is not only storming children’s rooms or nerd caves, but also the catwalk. The fashion world is also increasingly taking inspiration from Japanese animation culture. These fashion brands have already jumped on the bandwagon.
Cutely drawn characters with oversized eyes, superpowers and the freakiest outfits: these are the animes from Japan. Some of you may remember Heidi, Marco or Niels Holgersson – animated films whose first idea came from Japanese productions. The word “anime” first appeared in the 1970s and comes from the term “Japanation”. The drawn superheroes can be found everywhere, especially in Japan: Food packaging, advertisements and billboards are plastered all over them, and society is downright obsessed with the characters. Now more and more high-end fashion designers are taking inspiration from Japanese anime: For example, the smiling Pikachu is stuck next to the iconic GCDS logo or the cute little Doraemon on the Gucci bag.
But it also works the other way around: the wardrobe of the cult anime “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure”, for example, is strongly based on the real fashion world of the 80s. The mangaka Hirohiko Araki even assigned a specific model pose to each individual character. In a way, it is a give and take between two original worlds.
We present you the most epic anime x fashion collabs of the past years:
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure x Balenciaga (FW18)
The Italian characters of the fourth season of “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” do not shy away from risky fashion: Bruno Bucciarati in Balenciaga look on the cover of Uomo.(webuomo.jp).
MSGM x Attacker You! (SS19)
MSGM takes a leap back to the 80s with “Attacker You!”. The volleyball anime was presented by the designers with color blocking and main characters on the catwalk.
Moschino x The Rose of Versailles (FW20)
“The Rose of Versailles” looks like an anime for aristocrats in the Moschino collection. Let’s be honest, Marie Antoinette would easily have had the hottest style at court with this look.
Gucci x Doraemon (OFF21)
The cute little cat robot “Doraemon” has discreetly snuck into the OFF21 collection on a Gucci bag.
Neon Genesis Evangelion x Undercover (FW21)
Undercover does it less discreetly: an entire costume with red laser eyes is dedicated to the human robots from “Neon Genesis Evangelion”.
JW Anderson x Run Hany (FW22)
The protagonist of “Run Hany” is emblazoned on the JW Anderson shirt just as rebellious as the brand itself.
