The manga One Piece has become a worldwide phenomenon. The best-selling manga of all time, it has obviously had a major influence on pop culture far beyond Japan's borders, particularly in French rap, which is a huge fan of the work, even to the point of featuring it in an exclusive clothing collection. One Piece x Project X Paris.
The greatest manga in history?
One Piece has become a central part of global pop culture. For those who have missed out on the phenomenon, it's a shonen, a manga aimed more at teenagers. It was first published in 1997, and 100 volumes later, it's still not finished. Created by Eiichiro Oda, the series has sold over 470 million copies in 43 different countries. An absolutely mind-boggling score, both in terms of the number of volumes released and in terms of success. A success that has made this colossal work a veritable monument to the culture of all teenagers of the years 2000/2010. So it's hardly surprising that the series has inspired rappers, fashion designers and illustrators everywhere.
This incredible success makes it probably the greatest manga in history, and has even replaced Dragon Ball or Naruto among the youngest readers, as well as more seasoned manga fans. One Piece's storyline is that of an epic, breathtaking epic. Luffy, the boy with the straw hat and the amazing properties of his body, sails the Grand Line Ocean with his crew in search of One Piece, the ultimate treasure that will make him King of the Pirates. Along the way, of course, they encounter many mythical villains, including Doflamingo. The characters are all quite likeable, there's a sense of humor, the story is gripping - in short, all the ingredients were there for the series to be a hit. And it did, becoming one of the most profitable franchises in history.
Today, almost no French rap album is released without a reference to One Piece and its pirates (like Orelsan for example, in one of his old freestyles). This is proof that, in addition to selling well, the work has really spread to all levels of society. It's even about to be re-adapted as a series on Netflix, and I'm telling you, it's likely to be one of the biggest successes in the platform's history. After all, the manga has hardcore fans who are keen to give strength to anything remotely related to their favorite work. And that's just as well, because at Project X Paris, we've just released a exclusive collection in collaboration with One Piece. A collection that's already a hit.
PXP x One Piece: quasi-customized streetwear
The One Piece universe abounds with a multitude of characters, all of them striking or useful in one way or another, with particular character traits that leave a lasting impression on viewers. As a result, Project X Paris has taken a very broad view, with a collection which features a huge variety of characters, colors and designs. This streetwear/manga connection isn't the first (remember DBZ sneakers back in the day), but it's the only one to be so diverse. The aim was to offer quasi-customized One Piece clothing: with so many different colors, characters and designs, you're sure to find something to suit you, and there's little risk of everyone wearing the same T-shirt.
The collection features a huge selection of One Piece t-shirt. Of course, there are models with large prints on the front of the torso, representing either Zoro, or Luffy. All available in a range of colors, from black to red, including cloud blue, which is surely one of the most original. We also have a whole range of One Piece "Crew" tee shirt with the logo on the torso and prints on the back. Finally, the most daring piece: the All Over" t-shirt This model is covered with motifs representing mythical characters from the series, such as Chopper, Nami, Usopp and many others. Once again, Project X Paris offers a wide range of combinations, with at least 6 different colors and 6 different characters represented on the patterns.
Let's move on to another highlight of the PXP x One Piece collection: the hoodies. One of the most essential pieces in today's streetwear panoply, as we explained in one of our previous articles. Here again, several hoodie models are available. These include models with large Zoro or Luffy on the torso, in a range of colors (here again, cloud blue and beige are very effective, and very much in vogue at the moment). Behind, a brief summary of the One Piece saga is printed on the upper back. But there's also a whole range of all-over hoodies with small motifs reproduced all over the garment, and several colors.
Sweatshirts that can also be worn with the jogging bottoms to match, for the ultimate "tracksuit" effect. The all-over jogging bottoms are just as effective and comfortable. Finally, for those who prefer something a little different, there are also One Piece round-neck sweatshirts available in 4 colors. The sweatshirts feature the Project X Paris "crew" logo printed on the torso, and prints representing the crew supporting Luffy in his quest for One Piece, the famous "Nakama", his comrades. In short, whether you're a fan of manga or streetwear (or both), this one piece x PXP collection is bound to contain a piece that's just right for you. In fact, the success of this collaboration is clear to see: the pieces are selling out fast all over France in our boutiques, or at our 1,500 official retailers around the world.
