The Jordan Brand x Slam Dunk collaboration brings the fictional character Hanamichi Sakuragi -- protagonist of Japanese manga artist Takehiko Inoue's wildly popular 'Slam Dunk' series -- out of comic book pages and onto Jordan Brand shoes and apparel.
Sakuragi's story hasn't been developed since 1996, at which point he was sidelined with injuries. Inoue has gone on record saying he imagines the character to still be alive, recovering from his injury and still thinking of himself as the basketball genius he was in high school. It is this storyline that is illustrated on the Jordan Super.Fly 3.
Meanwhile, the Air Jordan VI Slam Dunk edition bears famous imagery from Slam Dunk highlighting different moments from the series, particularly those pertaining to Sakuragi's basketball talent, drive and personal growth.
The Jordan Brand x Slam Dunk collection is already on sale in select Asian markets, and will receive its global release on November 1.
Manga Sneaker Collaborations
The Jordan Brand x Slam Dunk Collection is Inspired By Manga
Trend Themes
1. Manga-inspired Fashion - Opportunity for fashion brands to collaborate with popular manga franchises to create unique clothing and accessories.
2. Nostalgia Marketing - Brands can tap into nostalgia by collaborating with iconic characters from beloved manga series, creating limited-edition collections that appeal to fans and collectors.
3. Cross-cultural Collaborations - Collaborations between Western brands, like Jordan Brand, and popular manga franchises present an opportunity to bridge the gap between different cultures and create unique products that cater to a diverse audience.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Fashion brands can leverage manga collaborations to attract a new customer base and engage with fans of the manga genre.
2. Entertainment - Entertainment companies can explore partnerships with manga artists to expand their intellectual property through merchandise collaborations, generating additional revenue streams.
3. Sportswear - Sportswear brands can create special edition collections with manga themes to appeal to fans of both sports and manga, providing a unique product offering in the market.