Anime and High Fashion

The Japanese art of storytelling, manga, is known for its distinctive style and widespread popularity. Originating during the 12th century, the early form of comics presented itself as detailed scrolls with vivid visuals and provocative text. The title “manga” became linked to the artistic practice in 1798, during the historic Edo period. By the 1920s, the scrolls evolved into something that closely resembled conventional comic strips and were quickly circulated throughout the public via serialization in newspapers and magazines. Manga generally draws on the themes of satire, romance, and science fiction.

Since its inception, the genre and its video counterpart, anime, has grown to establish a lucrative industry and an international imprint. Well liked series such as Sailor Moon and Doraemon, in addition to the kawaii character Hello Kitty, have been born out of an explosion of interest in manga all over the world. Moreover, the influence of manga is so powerful, that in recent years the pervasive comics have transcended glossy magazine pages and found their way onto major fashion runways.

Today, sought-after manga series have blossomed into brands within themselves. Merchandise with popular characters and themed home goods are just a few things that have precipitated out the collective adoration of the various shows and series. However, the manga obsession does not stop there. Major labels such a Louis Vuitton, Moschino, and Prada have all embraced manga on the runway with statement pieces inspired by the signature comic style and direct allusions to viral characters. Recently, Gucci released a Doraemon X Gucci capsule collection for Chinese New Year, placing the manga cat-robot on bags, tees, and more. The artistry of manga, which is indicative of centuries filled with creativity fused with Japanese tradition, is similarly as detail-oriented and beautiful as clothing design. The intersection of the two feels natural yet nuanced as it mixes exclusive luxury with accessible art.

Anime styles and allusions are especially prevalent in streetwear. Accessible brands like Uniqlo and Adidas have put out highly successful collaborations with Manga series such as Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z. Moreover, high-end brands, closely linked to hype beast culture, like Supreme and Bape have also engaged in similar collaborations.

Altogether, the fusion of manga culture and popular fashion amalgamates vivid visuals and unparalleled artistry in a way that reminiscent of the playful nature of anime and the importance of clothing design. Many designers have recognized the fine line between the two art forms and have consequently created many memorable runway moments.

A model applepicking while displaying a cat theme inspired ensemble.

A young woman incorperating an Attack on Titan t -shirt to her casual attire.

Anime Everyday

When one talks about Japanese fashion, it is often associated with mute colors, either formal fitted clothes, or simple comfortable outfits on the weekend. Anime lovers have chosen a different lifestyle. Anime brought a major revolution in the japanese fashion industry, especially in street styles. While visiting Harajuku or Akihabara, it’s hard not to notice anime inspired fashion in abundance. Anime inspired colors and print styles are becoming the new wardrobe essentials for Anime lovers across Japan.

There are essentially two main types of common Anime inspired fashion. The first one being closer to cosplay, with fans dressing up like their favorite characters. This includes people wearing capes and robes or other eccentric pieces. On the other hand you have fans symbolizing their favourite anime characters - maybe with an accessory, or maybe with regular streetwear essentials like converse, T-shirts, hats, ties, etc. These types of outfits are most commonly worn in informal settings like shopping streets, restaurants, or meetups.

As popular as it is becoming in Japan, anime inspired fashion is facing some serious backlash. Many believe that anime fashion is against the typically accepted Japanese culture. That said, it’s easier for anime lovers to identify other fellow anime lovers when they see others wearing an outfit or using an accessory featuring their favourite show or character. Thus, it helps in socialising with other like-minded people. That’s never a bad thing! Today, Attack on Titan is a major brand in an industry swimming in them. But it still stands out. Merchandise for the show is copiously available at retailers like Hot Topic and it’s inspired tons of cosplay, with both the aforementioned Colossal Titan and the militaryinspired uniform of the Survey Corps being popular choices. “Guren no Yumiya” blared from both cover bands and loud speakers alike at anime conventions. The Corps Dance Crew produces a hip hop-inspired stage show for it at Anime Expo 2014 and a rough video of it earns over a million views.

An anime inspried fall aesthetic.