A Point of Intersection: Fashion and Anime
Watching Japanese Anime has become a popular pastime for many people around the world and has led to the globalization of certain aspects of Japanese culture; especially in the world of fashion and design.
The character designs in Japanese Anime are often very elaborate, and are used by the show creators in order to better express certain aspects of characters in the shows. These design choices can range from eloquent high class ,with a designer type look, like in “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” to the stealthy, yet often colorful, tactical aesthetic that characters in “Naruto” might wear.
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Pictured above is one of the most iconic characters in Anime Naruto who sports a tactical sweatsuit used to carry his ninja equipment. Pictured next to Naruto is popular American rapper ASAP Rocky, who is praised and often touted as a fashion icon. It is pretty much impossible to ignore the similarities of these two outfits, considering the color choices and silhouette of their outfits. Additionally, Rocky expressed that he enjoys “DragonBall” which is another widely popular Anime.
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Streetwear has become a popular style sported by many people around the world. It is undeniable that streetwear borrows some of the design choices from popular anime shows, especially tactical urban pieces. Tactical outfit pieces often have straps, extra pouches and often are in darker colors. The characteristics of these pieces are very similar to outfits worn in Anime shows like Tokyo Ghoul, My Hero Academia, Naruto, etc….
The intermingling of fashion and Anime goes further than just the realm of streetwear though. In the world of modern designers such as; Gucci, Versace, Dior they develop eccentric silhouettes, colors, and unique accent pieces. Often high profile celebrities can be spotted sporting these elaborate pieces. As an anime fan myself I can't help but to draw parallels between some of these designer pieces and characters in Anime.
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Pictured above is a prime example of the high fashion designer world and the Anime counterpart. Harry Styles wore that blue velvet suit designed by Gucci at the induction of Stevie Nicks into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and after seeing the suit my mind immediately went to Kakyoin who is a popular side character in the show “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure”. Kakyoin is sporting a similar emerald green duster and pants, even striking a similar pose to Styles. In “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” the characters wear intricate outfits that mimic luxury designer clothes that you would most likely see on a runway in Paris.
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The last example of the fashion world sharing elements with the world of anime is the impact of Anime on Alt fashion. Since the days of tattered, dark, and patchy clothes Alt fashion has evolved. Kawaii alt arose from the evolution of old alt fashion and it is heavily influenced by anime. Kawaii is translated from Japanese to english as “cute” which is a big part of the alt Kawaii look. Kawaii alt is a take on alt fashion that uses more lace and frill, and generally more pastel colors to copy the aesthetic of anime characters while still staying true to alternative fashion roots.
Japanese Anime becoming popular worldwide has impacted many different nations and imprinted itself as a cultural phenomenon. The worldwide growth of Anime will continually impact real world trends and designs for years to come.
Strike Out,
Writer: Skyler Oakley
Editor: Hunter Stockton
Chattanooga