BAPE and Dragon Ball join forces in launching a series of collaborative t-shirts that boast graphic imprints of the iconic anime series. The Japanese streetwear label and the anime make a powerful duo, and the joint project drops two different design prints on either a black canvas t-shirt or a black base t-shirt. This is not the first time A Bathing Ape has worked together with Dragon Ball, as the two dropped some garments together last year as well.
The t-shirts star BAPE's iconic Baby Milo character, as well as the classic characters from the anime such as Goku, Master Roshi, and Shenron. The selection will be available exclusively in Los Angeles' BAPE West Coast store location beginning May 5th, and the shirts will be priced at $122 USD each.
Anime-Motif T-Shirt Capsules
BAPE and Dragon Ball Drop a Range of Collaborative Tees for SS18
Trend Themes
1. Collaborative Fashion - The collaboration between BAPE and Dragon Ball demonstrates the trend of brands joining forces to create unique and highly sought-after fashion items.
2. Anime-inspired Streetwear - The popularity of anime in streetwear fashion is evident in the success of the BAPE and Dragon Ball collaborative t-shirts, showcasing the trend of incorporating anime motifs into clothing.
3. Character-driven Fashion - The use of iconic characters like Goku and Baby Milo on the collaborative t-shirts signifies the trend of leveraging recognizable characters in fashion to attract consumers and create brand loyalty.
Industry Implications
1. Streetwear - The success of the BAPE and Dragon Ball collaboration highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in the streetwear industry by incorporating popular anime themes and characters into clothing designs.
2. Anime Merchandise - The demand for anime-themed clothing showcased by the collaboration between BAPE and Dragon Ball presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the anime merchandise industry, encouraging more collaborations between brands and anime franchises.
3. Fashion Retail - The exclusive availability of the collaborative t-shirts in select locations suggests a potential disruptive innovation opportunity in fashion retail through limited edition releases and localized distribution strategies.