Summary
Puma launched a new clothing collection in collaboration withOne Piecein March. It featured several items, includingOne Piece-themed Suede sneakers. It wasn’t long until everything sold out.
Several clothing brands have recently been collaborating with the franchise.Lacostealso announceda new collection based on the series. Collabs are not entirely new (for example, we had the Vans x One collectiona few years ago), but this yearOne Pieceeven appeared for the first time atNew York Fashion Weekback in September. The series has been huge for a while, but it’s apparently skyrocketing as an international merchandise phenomenon.
For fans who missed the Puma xOne Piececollection,you now have a second chance to grab a few items. Ahead of the holidays, the collection is once again availableon the official Puma website, but some products are already sold out (at the time of writing).
Prices vary from $40 to $85 — orders over $60 qualify for free shipping (and all orders qualify for free returns, but it’s always better to check the terms and conditions).
The Value of Anime Collections Are Spiking
Anime is Still a Niche in Some Sense, But is Growing Bigger and Bigger
Anime has been growing in the last decade, and the COVID-19 pandemic actually helped to boost its popularity, since people stayed more time at home, watching new things. According to a Japan News report, nearly 45% of American Gen Z (ages 18-24) like anime today,even more than major sports.
In spite of its rising popularity, anime is still somewhat a niche thing. It is maybe right at that middle point between niche and mainstream. Big anime hits, likeDragon BallorOne Piece,have gone mainstream, but most anime series could still be considered niche content.
Anyway, anime has been trending so much recently that some animators, likeGundamcreator Yoshiyuki Tomino, think the industry is at its peak (or even in the middle of some sort of bubble), and that studios are not profiting from all this growth. Over the last years, a lot of animators have shared on social media that their jobs have not improved much in quality or wages despite the anime boom.
One Piece x Puma collection is back for a while, but will likely sell out soon.
