Just as the film industry, moribund during 2 years of CoVid, is beginning to recover, a tidal wave swept through cinemas in France and around the world this summer, with the release of one of the most eagerly awaited works of the year: the film "One Piece Red", which unleashed passions throughout the month of August. Focus on a phenomenon that's still causing a stir!
The return of the pop culture monument
All the figures surrounding the "One Piece" manga phenomenon are staggering. A publication that began in 1997, 25 years ago. A total of 103 volumes have already been published. For those who prefer to consume manga in animated form, they'll have to face up to the colossal work comprising 1,025 episodes. This may discourage some from starting to read what is probably the most successful and internationally acclaimed manga of all time. But fear not: all these episodes and volumes are easy to consume, and you're quickly immersed in the world of Luffy and his friends, or rather his crew, as they sail the Grand Line in search of the fabulous treasure known as "One Piece". It's not an easy quest, and one that has captivated hundreds of millions of readers and viewers around the world. To the point of becoming a veritable social phenomenon, perhaps even more so than its big brother "Dragon Ball Z", the cult manga of the previous generation.
This summer saw a momentous event for fans of Luffy and his pirate crew, with the release of "One Piece: Red", an almost two-hour feature-length film recounting the pirates' misadventures on the island of Elegia, where Uta, the world's most popular singer, was due to perform at a major festival. And here's the kicker: Uta is the daughter of the legendary pirate Shanks le Roux, and a childhood friend of Luffy, the character who brought the straw hat back into fashion. We won't tell you too much about the scenario or events, to avoid spoiling. This is the fifteenth "One Piece" movie, proof of the public's enthusiasm for the manga universe, and of the public's curiosity, which constantly demands that this or that part of the manga be explored in greater detail. And unlike some of its predecessors, this film was produced directly by Eiichiro Oda, the mangaka who wrote and invented "One Piece". A very important fact for fans, who above all want the universe of their favorite manga to be respected, and who better than the creator himself to ensure that the spirit of the "One Piece: Red" film will be faithful to the manga universe.
The success of this film, too, was not long in coming. In just 3 weeks of release, the animated film has has already broken most records in its category. Beyond that, social networks were inundated with "One Piece" for days on end, and videos were shared of riots at the entrances to cinemas during previews, particularly in Japan, France and the USA. These scenes are proof that this manga is a little more than just a comic book: above all, it's a monument to pop-culture that influences a huge number of people, whether rappers or simply fans inspired by the moral codes displayed by some of the manga's characters. But the influence of "One Piece" doesn't stop there, and the world of fashion has also drawn inspiration from this incredible adventure.
PXP x One Piece, the streetwear blockbuster
At Project X Paris, we obviously jumped at the opportunity of the 25th anniversary of "One Piece" to offer them a collaboration. We're obviously delighted with this collab' because it's quite simply one of the brand's biggest successes since its launch in 2015. Thanks to this collab', we've been able to reach a much wider and more diversified audience than just urban youth, already won over to the "One Piece" cause. streetwear. It's also the strength of manga that it has been able to transcend borders and geographical, social and generational divides to become a true mass phenomenon. It has to be said that this highly diversified collection is particularly successful, and we're taking advantage of this happy timing to give you a quick reminder of the contents of the collab. Starting, of course, with the central element: the One Piece t-shirt. Or rather t-shirts, because at PXP we've made it a point of honor to offer a capsule that's as wide-ranging, diverse and "customizable" as possible.
The collab's T-shirts can be grouped into 4 main categories: "All Over" T-shirts, available in a range of colors, with motifs featuring cult manga characters such as Usopp, Nami and Chopper. There are also simpler "One Piece" T-shirts, with large prints on the torso, representing Luffy or Zoro, again in a wide range of colors. Then there are the "One Piece Crew" t-shirts, designed as a tribute to 90s/2000s streetwear. Finally, the most "confidential" piece, but one we really like: the signature t-shirt, where the "X" in the PXP logo has been replaced by a skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat, a discreet but assertive nod to the imagery of the cult manga. But that's not all: the sweatshirt, round-neck or hooded, also has its place in the big collection. PXP x One Piece. Sweatshirts are an essential part of any streetwear wardrobe, and this is even more true as summer draws to a close. We're going to start by talking about hoodies, this cult urban fashion item, with 3 designs available in the One Piece capsule.
A model with a large print on the torso representing either Luffy or Zoro, available in several colors. An "All Over" model with prints covering the entire hoodie, again representing cult shonen characters. Finally, the inevitable signature hoodie, much more sober, with the "Project X Paris" logo modified in pirate style for the occasion. Heavy stuff for sweatshirts and t-shirts, but the collection wouldn't be complete without a pair of pants worthy of the name. That's just as well, since we're also offering two models of jogging bottoms PXP x One Piece, to complete your outfit and even create an overall effect, as with the "All Over" tracksuit bottoms available in four colors. For the more sober among you, we recommend the "Basic" jogging bottoms, available in black, white and blue, which will go perfectly with a "One Piece Signature" t-shirt or sweatshirt. In short, there's plenty to do at Project X Paris for fans of the world's most phenomenal manga!