Converse PIVOT by Diffeducation are celebrating 10 years of Takehiko Inoue's manga 'Real' with the Converse Real Edition. 'Real' is a manga about wheelchair basketball players that has been serialized by Shueisha’s Young Jump.
The Converse Real Edition gives a manga makeover to the Converse Weapon Street Mid by decorating the inner tongues with portraits of characters from the manga. The shoe also features a more direct tribute to Real in the form of "Volume 10" sewn into the heel.
The Converse Real Edition manages to be a cool shoe and a piece of manga-tribute apparel all at the same time. It is no secret that most manga-branded apparel is a fashion nightmare, but this shoe manages to let you rep your favorite manga without looking like you just came from Comic-Con. Next up: DragonBall Z Nikes.
Celebratory Manga Shoes
The Converse Real Edition Celebrates 10 Years of 'Real'
Trend Themes
1. Manga-inspired Apparel - Opportunity for fashion brands to collaborate with popular manga titles and offer stylish, wearable merchandise.
2. Niche Sport-manga Crossover Products - Niche sports manga titles present opportunities for brands to expand their product range to include crossover products for niche sports enthusiasts.
3. Anime-themed Shoes - Opportunity for shoe brands to tap into the anime fandom and offer shoes featuring popular anime characters or motifs.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Apparel - Fashion brands and retailers can explore collaborations with popular manga titles to offer a wider range of unique clothing and accessories.
2. Sportswear and Sneakers - Sneaker brands can incorporate niche sports manga themes into their designs to appeal to both sneakerheads and niche sports fans.
3. Anime Merchandise - Beyond clothing and shoes, consumer goods companies can explore the anime fandom to create a range of merchandise featuring popular anime characters and motifs.