Unveiled at a Milan Fashion Week, popular streetwear brand GCDS showcased its new Spring/Summer line of Pokemon-themed apparel. Featuring appearances by multiple Pokemon, the collection includes boots with Jigglypuff knee protectors, knitted Pikachu sweaters, and even a skin-tight Pikachu romper. The showcase definitely drew a great deal of buzz from the internet as both fans of the series and fashionistas flocked to the cartoon-inspired apparel.
Part of the interest around GCDS' Pokemon-themed apparel centered around the unique way in which the characters were showcased on the clothing. Pokemon are generally depicted with cute smiles but this collection aimed to change this idea by featuring the characters with either frowns or aggressive expressions.
Anime-Inspired Streetwear
GCDS' Pokemon-Themed Apparel Drew Praise at Milan Fashion Week
Trend Themes
1. Anime-inspired Streetwear - The rise of anime-inspired streetwear is disrupting traditional fashion boundaries, attracting a new generation of customers that are looking for unique and creative designs.
2. Character Expression Push - Using well-known characters such as Pokemon but giving them a new twist with expressions is a disruptive innovation opportunity to create new bold designs for clothing lines.
3. Pop Culture in Fashion - Pop culture and fashion worlds are coming together more frequently, and creating collections inspired by popular shows or movies is disrupting the industry, appealing to a growing audience that wants to express themselves through their fashion choices.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Industry - The fashion industry can reach new markets through innovative streetwear designs inspired by popular culture, while also captivating younger audiences.
2. Pop Culture Industry - The pop culture industry can benefit from collaborations with fashion and lifestyle brands to create new phenomena and products that engage both loyal series-followers and fashion enthusiasts.
3. Anime & Manga Industry - The anime & manga industry has the opportunity to increase its fan-base by partnering with fashion houses and integrating popular characters into their designs.