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SoraNews24
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Nana manga artist Ai Yazawa teams up with Uniqlo for T-shirt line, brand-new illustration【Pics】
UT line celebrates Yazawa's 40 years as a shojo manga creator. Ai Yazawa may not be among the absolute most prolific manga creators in terms of the number of series she's penned or chapters she's drawn, but the consistency with which her works have captured fans' hearts is something any artist would envy. Now, as Yazawa marks the 40th anniversary of her professional manga artist debut, she's teaming up with Uniqlo for the Ai Yazawa Collection. Part of the Japanese casual clothing chain's UT graphic T-shirt sub-brand, the Ai Yazawa Collection consists of five designs, one (which we'll get to a little later) featuring a brand-new illustration from the artist. Naturally, Yazawa's biggest hit, Nana, is represented with a shirt showing the members of Black Stones, the band which protagonist Nana Osaki is the vocalist for. Also represented is Tenshi Nanka ja Nai, Yazawa's breakout serialized series. Though the series' title translates to 'I'm no angel,' the dress worn by main character Midori Saejima in the illustration on the shirt's chest, which comes from the cover of the manga's sixth collected volume, has a definite seraphic style. The shirts for Paradise Kiss and Neighborhood Story blur the lines between in-manga and real-world apparel. The two series follow aspiring fashion designers and models, and their Uniqlo shirts employ emblems from within the stories in a way that's subtle but will be easily recognized by fellow fans. And finally, the fifth shirt in the lineup sports a newly created illustration from Yazawa of Nana Osaki. Though Nana started serialization in the spring of 2000, the series is still technically ongoing, having been on 'hiatus' since 2009. At this point, it's questionable whether Yazawa will ever restart the series, at least the new illustration seems to be telling fans that Nana is still as coolly confident as they remember her. Though Uniqlo's anime/manga collaboration T-shirts are usually offered in men's cuts, in keeping with Yazawa's works all being in the shojo manga classification, the Ai Yazawa Collection items are women's shirts. Each priced at 1,500 yen (US$10.35), they're scheduled to go on sale in early July, at which time they'll be available at Uniqlo branches in Japan and through the chain's online store here. Source: Uniqlo via Nijimen Featured image: Uniqlo Top image: Uniqlo Insert images: Uniqlo (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Tokyo Weekender
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
From Nana to Paradise Kiss: Ai Yazawa's Iconic Manga Are Coming to Uniqlo
Iconic manga artist Ai Yazawa is joining forces with Uniqlo's UT brand for a special t-shirt collection set to release in early July 2025. The collaboration celebrates Yazawa's 40th anniversary in the industry and features designs from her most beloved works, including Nana , Paradise Kiss, Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story), and Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (I'm Not an Angel). List of Contents: A Milestone Collaboration Collection Highlights Collection Details Yazawa's Cultural Impact Related Posts A Milestone Collaboration Four Decades of Manga Brilliance This Uniqlo UT collection marks a significant milestone in Ai Yazawa's illustrious career. Since her debut 40 years ago, Yazawa has captivated readers with her distinctive art style and compelling storytelling, particularly focusing on fashion, music, and the complexities of relationships. Her works have not only defined generations of manga fans but have also influenced Japanese fashion and pop culture at large. Exclusive Designs for Devoted Fans What makes this Nana Uniqlo collab particularly special is a brand-new illustration created exclusively for the collection. The design features Nana Osaki (one of the two protagonists from Nana ) wearing her signature leather jacket over a t-shirt bearing an image of Nana 'Hachi' Komatsu, the series' other protagonist. This meta design symbolizes the enduring connection between the two characters, offering fans a unique piece of Yazawa artistry unavailable anywhere else. Collection Highlights Nana: A Cult Classic Reimagined The Nana t-shirt designs include a dark gray option featuring a collage of the members of Nana's band 'Black Stones' (BLAST), designed to resemble a vintage band t-shirt. This piece perfectly encapsulates the rock-and-roll aesthetic that made 'Nana' a cultural phenomenon when it debuted in 2000. Paradise Kiss: Fashion-Forward Tribute The Paradise Kiss design comes in blue, drawing inspiration from the fashion show that serves as a pivotal plot point in the story. It features butterfly motifs and the brand logo embroidered on the chest—a fitting tribute to a manga that revolves around fashion design students creating their own clothing line. the back text reads, "gokinjo monogatari, ai yazawa" Gokinjo Monogatari: Iconic Streetwear For Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story) fans, Uniqlo offers a white t-shirt featuring iconic motifs inspired by the fictional fashion brand that appears in the series. The back of the shirt showcases a design quoted from page 8 of the first volume of the manga's paperback edition, making it a collector's item for devoted fans. Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai: Vintage Aesthetic The Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (I'm Not an Angel) design comes in natural color and features an illustration from the inside cover of the sixth volume of the Cobalt Bunko edition. Uniqlo has carefully reproduced the hand-drawn quality of Yazawa's original artwork, preserving her distinctive style in the print. Collection Details Pricing, Sizing and Availability All t-shirts in the Ai Yazawa UT collection will be priced at ¥1,500 each and will be available in sizes ranging from XS to 3XL, with XS and XXL-3XL sizes exclusive to Uniqlo's online store. The collection will launch in early July 2025 at all Uniqlo stores across Japan and on the Uniqlo online store. Yazawa's Cultural Impact Revolutionary Manga Storytelling Ai Yazawa's work stands out in the manga landscape for its nuanced exploration of youth culture, relationships, and artistic pursuits. Nana in particular has achieved cult status for its raw portrayal of friendship, ambition, and the music scene in early 2000s Japan. Similarly, Paradise Kiss revolutionized the way fashion was depicted in manga, with meticulous attention to clothing design and the fashion industry. Fashion Meets Manga What makes this collaboration particularly fitting is that Yazawa's manga has always had a strong focus on fashion. Her characters are consistently well-dressed in carefully designed outfits that often reflect real fashion trends or create new ones. The intersection of manga and fashion that Yazawa pioneered makes this Uniqlo partnership feel like a natural extension of her artistic vision. The Ai Yazawa x Uniqlo UT collection will be available in early July 2025. For more information and updates, visit the official collection page . Related Posts Say Yes to This Nana Wedding Dress Collection New Senate Bill Could Criminalize Anime, Manga and Games Featuring Underage Characters Berserk, Parasyte and Uzumaki Manga Collections Are Coming to Uniqlo
