One Piece x PUMA Collection Is Back In Time For the Holidays

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Summary

  • One Piece x Puma collection available again, expected to sell out soon.
  • Anime’s rising popularity attributed to pandemic, Gen Z’s interest.
  • Big anime hits, like One Piece, have gone mainstream; industry’s growth challenges animators.

As a seasoned anime enthusiast who has been following the genre since its humble beginnings, I can confidently say that the One Piece x Puma collection is a testament to the incredible growth and mainstream acceptance of anime. Having grown up with VHS tapes of Dragon Ball Z and Naruto, it’s truly heartwarming to see One Piece gracing New York Fashion Week and collaborating with global brands like Puma.

In March, Puma unveiled a fresh clothing line in partnership with the popular anime series “One Piece.” The collection showcased various goods, among them were sneakers inspired by the series made from suede material. Not surprisingly, these items quickly flew off the shelves and became unavailable.

A number of clothing companies have recently joined forces with the popular franchise. More recently, Lacoste unveiled a new line inspired by the show. Collaborations aren’t exactly novel (remember the Vans x One collection from a few years back?), but this year, One Piece made its debut at New York Fashion Week in September. The series has been quite popular for some time now, but it seems to be experiencing unprecedented growth as a global merchandising sensation.

If you were among those who regretted missing the Puma collaboration with One Piece, here’s good news! You now have another opportunity to snatch a few pieces from this collection. Just in time for the holiday season, the collection has been restocked on the official Puma website; however, some items have already run out (at the moment of writing).

Costs can range between $40 and $85. If your purchase exceeds $60, you get free delivery (although every order is eligible for free returns; just make sure to review the specific terms and conditions).

The Value of Anime Collections Are Spiking

Anime is Still a Niche in Some Sense, But is Growing Bigger and Bigger

Over the past ten years, anime has experienced significant growth, and surprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic played a pivotal role in increasing its popularity. With people spending more time indoors, they turned to discovering new content, which led to an increase in anime’s fanbase. As reported by Japan News, a staggering 45% of American Gen Z (aged 18-24) currently enjoy anime, outnumbering the interest in major sports.

Despite gaining more recognition, anime remains somewhat of a specialized interest rather than fully mainstream. It occupies a unique position, teetering on the edge between niche and mass appeal. While shows like Dragon Ball or One Piece have achieved mainstream status, the majority of anime series can still be classified as niche programming.

It’s clear that anime has gained immense popularity lately, to the point where creators like Yoshiyuki Tomino, who brought us Gundam, are expressing concerns about the industry potentially reaching its zenith (or perhaps even a bubble). They suggest that studios may not be reaping the full benefits of this growth spurt. Over time, many animators have voiced on social platforms that despite the anime resurgence, their working conditions and salaries haven’t seen significant improvements.

One Piece x Puma collection is back for a while, but will likely sell out soon.

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2024-12-15 22:54