The Evolution of Pokémon in the Footwear Sector and Doing Its Best

It should come as no surprise that Pokémon, one of the most popular entertainment franchises of all time, jumped from the screen to the street. The iconic and celebrated brand is best known for its colorful characters, including Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle, who paved the way for the brand’s successful foray into apparel. With the rise of ‘dopamine dressing’, more people realize that what we wear plays an important role in how we feel, and there’s just something special about adding your favorite childhood character to your outfit.

As fans of all ages around the world seek out Pokémon-themed items, the franchise branched out into accessories and then apparel. Over the years, established fashion brands like Balmain and Levi’s have partnered with the brand to fulfill fans’ dreams of wearing Pokémon from head to toe.

Mathieu Galante, Director of Licensing, EMEA at The Pokémon Company International, said: “Pokémon has become a true fashion icon in recent years and working with a wide range of apparel and footwear offers a great opportunity to connect with our audience in unique ways. new and diverse. . Our rich heritage and colorful, much-loved characters provide endless inspiration for designers to create unique and surprising collections, while our broad global appeal and reputation for innovation attracts a wide range of high caliber partners, from street to designer, offering something for all.”

Recognizing the demand for Pokémon apparel, the franchise entered the footwear space, targeting some of the biggest global names in the industry. Together with leading brands like Converse, PUMA and Clarks, they have developed collaborative collections. Each collaboration is carefully geared towards what fans want, from those looking for bold and obvious Pokémon references to those who want to make more subtle clothing choices in their footwear but still carry the Pokémon spirit. Some of the more daring collaborations include the PUMA x Pokémon capsule collection, the original Converse x Pokémon collection, and the Irregular Choice x Pokémon collection, which predominantly showcased the brand’s characters and catchphrases.

Pokémon x Clarks: A collaboration for adults and children

For fans who prefer to show their love of Pokémon in a less obvious way, Pokémon has teamed up with footwear brand Clarks. An early 10-piece collection for adults and kids for Fall/Winter 2022 brought several key characters and icons (like the Poké Ball) from the franchise to life, with designs like the Clarks Originals Wallabee Boot with subtle Pikachu embossing and the Clarks Sneaker Kids Grip Pokémon with a playprint sole that leaves a Poké Ball imprint with every step. After the great success of the collection, a new collaboration is hitting the shelves. Again, the back-to-school styles and shoes feature soft, comfortable Clarks cushioning, shock-absorbing soles and easy on-and-off straps, plus fun Pokémon accents. School styles and Grip Pearl sneakers are available now in new pink and teal colorways, with new Foxing Mist and Peak Go styles slated for March.

Classic styles adorned with Pokémon characters in Puma and Converse

The PUMA x Pokémon capsule collection was inspired by the most iconic Pokémon characters and incorporated fun graphic images and colors of characters like Pikachu, Charmander and Squirtle into PUMA signature styles like the PUMA Slipstream, PUMA Suede Classic Sneaker and PUMA RS- X. Spanning a selection of apparel for youth and adults, the collection inspired fans to be the best-dressed Pokémon trainers like no one else has ever been. The Converse x Pokémon collection celebrated 25 years of Pokémon and featured original designs for consumers of all ages, including exclusive Converse All-Star styles in four colorways that pay homage to the brand. An obvious choice for a Pokémon collaboration, quirky fashion brand Irregular Choice created an extended collection of footwear and accessories that included bright and colorful Pokémon characters in 3D renderings and cutouts.

Between cult and haute couture: Pokémon interpreted by Crocs, Axel Arigato and Balmain

For the Pokémon collaboration with Crocs, the franchise reinvented the classic Crocs clogs with fun patterns featuring recognizable characters and created a themed Jibbitz, inspired by the Badges someone would earn after defeating a Gym Leader in the video game to add a more subdued effect to the Crocs.

In addition to partnering with top shoe brands, Pokémon has collaborated with top brands, giving high-end brands the Pokémon treatment for fans looking for something a little more exclusive. Pokémon applied its first-generation characters, such as Meowth and Gengar, to sneakers, sweatshirts, T-shirts and jeans by Swedish brand Axel Arigato. Balmain Creative Director Oliver Rousteing and Pokémon share the same unusually bold and adventurous view of life, making the two a perfect match for a collaborative collection. Much of the Balmain x Pokémon collection offers new versions of Balmain signatures, such as the brand’s sleek hoodies and sneakers, as well as its famous Labyrinth pattern.

Ready to dress its fans from head to toe, Pokémon is primed to help fans look their best through its many exciting footwear collaborations.