Levi’s and Princess Mononoke Collaborate for Unique Denim Fashion Line

Combining otaku culture and Japanese streetwear, denim has never looked so good in this Studio Ghibli collaboration.

Showing off your love of anime and looking fashionable doesn't have to be impossible anymore! Japan is often at the forefront of making "otaku fashion" something that is actually fashionable, with more and more collaborations between anime studios and fashion brands. This summer, Studio Ghibli has teamed up with not a Japanese brand this time but a famous Western one - Levi's!

The new collaboration was announced last week between the denim giant and one of Japan's biggest animation studios. The result is a unique line of denim products that will definitely make you stand out in the crowd, combining otaku life with modern street fashion. It is not the first time that Studio Ghibli has collaborated for a limited time with a brand to produce special pieces of clothing, but this particular line really stands out as more interesting than usual.

RELATED: New Studio Ghibli T-Shirts Arrive in Time for Summer

Levi's designs are all based specifically on 1997's Princess Mononoke, one of Studio Ghibli's most famous pieces. The movie has a strong environmental message, set deep in a magical forest protected by many animal guardians and other spirits. The main character, Ashitaka, has to work with the fabled Princess Mononoke to protect the forest from being cut down by big industry. Set entirely outside in a rough-and-tumble environment, Princess Mononoke is a good match for a line of totally denim clothing by one of the biggest names in the business.

According to the news release, the reason behind the collaboration is that both Levi's and Studio Ghibli are two of the most recognizable names in their respective businesses. Both are committed to producing results of the highest quality while embodying their own unique styles. The clothing items produced by this collaboration are listed as "works of art, with poetry woven into every piece."

All the items in the fashion line are meant to represent the environmental message in the original story of Princess Mononoke, capturing not only the characters but also the feeling of the movie. Pieces include the San & Wolf Trucker Jacket (¥34,100, $239USD) and matching Ashitaka 501® '93 Jeans (¥23,100, $162USD), which mix the green forest along with the leading characters, and the Nightwalker Denim Kimono Jacket (¥24,200, $169USD) and the Kodama Denim Overall (¥26,400, $185USD) which focus more on the forest spirits.

In addition to these iconic denim items, a few special t-shirts, a bag, and a coin purse are also part of the collaboration. The items are meant to be worn together, and according to the press release, this "symbolizes the cinema's rhythmic contrast between beautifully quiet moments and frenzied action scenes." Whether one can truly achieve that with fashion is questionable, but there's no doubt you will make a lasting impression at least!

MORE: What Can Still Be Learned From Princess Mononoke

You can buy the Princess Mononoke x Levi's collaboration items at the Levi's Harajuku Flagship Shop, or on the Levi's Online Store.

Source: PR Times

Based in Tokyo, Jack has been writing about Japanese pop culture for seven years now. He is also a gamer, hiker, wannabe barista, and proud herbivore. His passion is bringing news straight from Japan to you, in English, keeping the otaku world accessible for everyone. He lives with his two rescued street cats, Nezuko and Chachamaru. Jack has lived in Japan for ten years, three in a small city and seven in downtown Tokyo. He writes part time for GameRant, mostly anime-related news stories covering events, products, premiers, cafes, and more in Japan, and works full time in curriculum development and training. When he's not working, Jack is playing PlayStation 5, working on his sci-fi novel at a cafe, or planning his next backpacking trip. He also gets tattooed on a pretty regular basis, and recently has taken up bouldering. Follow him on Instagram and send a message if you like his work!