Raise the sails and grab your Berries, One Piece fans – the world’s most legendary pirate crew is ready to mark 25 years of grand adventures on the high seas in massively shonen style. As the iconic anime series’ 25th anniversary celebrations rapidly spread worldwide, Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo has been recruited for a very special limited-edition clothing collaboration.
Hitting stores on July 22, just ahead of the official One Piece Day festivities in August, the Uniqlo collection will feature 13 designs spanning men’s, women’s and kids’ t-shirts. But these aren’t just any ordinary tees. According to the brand, each one has been carefully inspired by the most epic story arcs, characters and pivotal moments across the Straw Hats’ incredible odyssey so far.
Fans can expect to see instantly recognizable imagery from all 25 years of One Piece lore. That means reliving Monkey D. Luffy’s determined sendoff during the East Blue saga, his jaw-dropping Gear 5 transformation in the Wano arc, and even Shanks and his daughter Uta’s big-screen debut in One Piece Film: Red. It’s a veritable graphic novel’s worth of adventure on comfy, wearable canvas.
The Uniqlo partnership is just one of many momentous happenings as the 25th anniversary festivities ramp up toward the One Piece Day extravaganza in Chiba, Japan this August. Eiichiro Oda’s sprawling pirate epic has taken the celebrations to staggering new heights and landscapes most fans could scarcely dream of.
It was only in early June that the iconic Straw Hat Jolly Roger flag and Luffy’s smiling face were emblazoned larger-than-life across the massive curved-LED screens of the brand new Vegas Sphere venue – marking One Piece as the first anime ever showcased at the dazzling entertainment complex.
Other anniversary plans include the first official One Piece trading card game world tournament spanning multiple cities, plus a Crunchyroll dump of “new” classic content in the form of previously unreleased One Piece dub episodes for Western audiences.
With a real-life pandemic, a time skip, and several animation studios in the rearview, the fact that One Piece has sailed strong for over two decades is a testament to its creator’s wildly ambitious vision and unyielding commitment to sharing Luffy’s quest to become the Pirate King.
Now, thanks to anniversary tie-ins like the hotly anticipated Uniqlo collab, fans worldwide can dress the part for the franchise’s biggest birthday celebration yet. To borrow a classic Zoro line: “Nothing happened.” Because this voyage is just getting started.
