Thailand-based fashion imprint CARNIVAL introduces its new Initial D First Stage collection that celebrates the street racing manga series. The capsule is made possible with the collaborative work alongside Japanese publishing company Kodansha for the season and highlights the series written and illustrated by the talented Shuichi Shigeno. The new capsule is made up of streetwear staples that are designed with scenes from the series.
It includes items including hoodies, crewneck sweaters, shirts, pants, tee, shorts, caps, car visors, skateboard decks, license plate frames, and much more that highlight the overarching theme. The maid focus spotlights the main character Takumi Fujiwara and his notable Toyota AE86 car along with other characters including Ryosuke Takahashi and Keisuke Takahashi.
Street Racing Anime-Themed Streetwear
CARNIVAL Launches the First Stage Collection for Summer
Trend Themes
1. Anime-themed Streetwear - The merging of fashion with popular anime culture presents opportunities for streetwear brands to tap into a dedicated and passionate fan base.
2. Collaborative Capsule Collections - Collaborations between fashion brands and publishers or intellectual property holders offer unique opportunities for both parties to showcase their respective strengths and reach new audiences.
3. Nostalgia Marketing - Capitalizing on nostalgia for popular manga/anime series can be a powerful marketing tool for brands, as fans seek out ways to express their love for these beloved properties.
Industry Implications
1. Streetwear - Anime-themed streetwear presents an opportunity for designers and retailers to tap into the growing demand for unique and niche styles.
2. Publishing - Collaborating with fashion brands allows publishing companies to expand their brand and reach new audiences, while creating new revenue streams beyond traditional media sales.
3. Automotive - Utilizing iconic cars from popular media in fashion collaborations not only appeals to fans of the series, but also car enthusiasts who may not have been familiar with the property before.