Have We Entered the Anime-Core Era?
May
In a time when life is filled with hustle and bustle, fashion seems to harbor a mystical charm that soothes the soul.
Each of us has cherished legendary animated films, whether in our youth or adulthood, they persist as a steadfast fortress. Many fashion brands have capitalized on the captivating allure of cartoons and sought new customers. Anime and Manga from Japan have built an empire, making the nation renowned for its animation industry, earning over tens of billions annually.
A prime example is the collaboration between Jimmy Choo and the producers of Sailor Moon, resulting in a capsule collection featuring pale pink knee-high boots, sparkling high-heeled shoes, and handbags adorned with cartoon illustrations.
On the same day, a group of artists from MSCHF announced the launch of the “Big Red Boot” (now sold out), an oversized design inspired by the iconic Japanese comic book character Astro Boy. This model immediately garnered attention: dozens of celebrities wore them, from Glass Onion to Sarah Synder. However, this also sparked confusion and humorous memes on the topic.
Now, fashion enthusiasts are divided into two camps: those who believe they are entirely unwearable and those who have spent hours buying them online. But most importantly, MSCHF’s boots have highlighted a long-standing trend: the fusion of fashion with a passion for cartoons.
Past collaborations include Takashi Murakami and Louis Vuitton and the artistic partnership between J.W. Anderson and Studio Ghibli. Therefore, anime and manga in fashion are not entirely new. In 2021, Gucci paid homage to the famous robot cat Doraemon with an exclusive collection. That same year, Loewe released a collection inspired by the Oscar-winning film Spirited Away, while Balmain drew inspiration from Pokemon, particularly Pikachu.
However, upon closer examination, you can see that certain anime series have directly or indirectly influenced the dressing style of young people, even before prestigious fashion brands recognized their potential. Sailor Moon began appearing in Western media outlets in 1995, and since then, crop tops, jumpsuits, and chic chrome-colored denim jackets have become part of the daily wardrobe for teenage girls. On the Western side, the influence of animated series like Totally Spies and Winx Club is notable. And now, with fashion brands acknowledging this phenomenon, we may have officially entered the anime-core era.
