Animecore: The Impact Of Cartoon Fashion Design Irl

Yes, the revival of the 2YK aesthetic it’s pretty obvious by now and it’s been happening for a couple of years now, which takes us to a new trend in the making: animecore. A rise in popularity of anime-inspired imagery it’s taking place across different industries, from graphic design to fashion. Visually, from a design perspective, we can expect flat graphics, colorful palettes, and exaggerated shapes, setting a film-like tone for the rest of the year, and we’re already seeing this trend thrive in motion graphics, advertising and social media assets.

However, the more obvious impact is taking place in the realm of fashion, as big well-known names in the industry are taking notes from Sailor Moon and company to keep their designs and collections fresh and interesting. The current state of the world is… complicated, to say the least, and any creative outlet is the perfect tool for escapism to shine, with fashion being no exception, as nostalgia is a no-brainer when it comes to taking people to a safe place (in their minds, at least). Stylists have often drawn on the generational appeal of cartoons, but lately it seems that cartoonish inspirations are growing, especially if we talk about anime and manga. Take Jimmy Choo for example, as it joined forces with Sailor Moon for a capsule collection consisting of baby pink knee-high boots, glitter platform pumps and a clutch bag decorated with comic book illustrations. You also have the art collective MSCHF, announcing the launch of the “Big Red Boot” inspired by the oversized design of the iconic Japanese manga Astro Boy – which sold out in a heartbeat. The model was an instant success: dozens of celebrities have been seen wearing them, from Glass Onion to Sarah Synder, resulting in an avalanche of confusion and memes, between those who called them absolutely unwearable and those who instead spent hours online trying to buy them. But above all, MSCHF boots have placed the accent on a much wider market trend: the passion of fashion (and its consumers) for cartoons and nostalgia.

However, this trend (like most trends), is nothing new. From Takashi Murakami and Poku Culture in Louis Vuitton to the artistic partnership between J.W. Anderson and Studio Ghibli, anime and manga in fashion, has been taking place for a while now. In 2021, Gucci paid homage to Doraemon, the famous space cat protagonist of an exclusive capsule, and more recently Loewe released a collection inspired by the Oscar-winning film Spirited Away, while Balmain has chosen to be inspired by Pokémon’s beloved Pikachu. But if you dig a little deeper, you can see how some anime series have played a crucial role in influencing the way young people dress, even before luxury realized their potential. Quoting an article from NSS Magazine: “Sailor Moon’s entry into Western media dates back to 1995, when the dubbed edition first hit television. Chromed crop tops, sweaters or preppy vests have become part of the daily wardrobe of teenagers with absolute ease, so as to influence subsequent western animations, from Totally Spies to Winx Club.”

The bond between anime and fashion is so strong that we’ve also seen fashion pieces to inspire cartoon fashion as well. For example, cartoonist Naoko Takeuchi made clear references to the couture of her day – from Mugler’s AW92 Sailor Saturn black bow ensemble to Princess Serenity’s Dior-inspired Palladium dress – almost as much as Ai Yazawa was inspired by Vivienne Westwood for Nana’s looks. We need to quote NSS once more so you full understand this symbiosis: “The intrigue around the nonconformist girl who makes her way into Japanese society is the result of corsets, ripped stockings, tartan blazers, Rocking Horses on her feet, smudged eyeshadow and branded lighters. Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo instead, the 1988 sci-fi action film that pioneered cyber punk, has inspired generations of stylists with the iconic “Akira red” workwear motorcycle suit, an essential reference, from Comme des Garçons and Supreme to the outfit by Ye for Donda’s live.”

Fashion and cartoons influence each other, especially since the interest in comics is no longer the exclusive preserve of nerds and even the cultural phenomenon of cosplay, a practice that sees fans dressing up from head to toe as anime characters, has reached an appeal mainstream – we’re all geeks now. From Harajuku fashion (just ask Gwen Stefani) to kidcore aesthetics, nostalgia is a determining factor when it comes to style: cartoons not only evoke carefree memories but also invite us to rediscover the joy of dressing up, or, why not, dressing up. And now that fashion brands have figured it out, we’ve officially entered the era of anime-core.

Sources:

www.nssmag.com