MARKET Teases an AKIRA Collaboration
When a cult brand meets a cult classic.
MARKET, the cult streetwear brand from Los Angeles formerly known as Chinatown Market, has been turning the culture on its head. They’re synonymous with an audacious, out-of-the-box design language that’s materialized in their Havaianas Zip Top Slides and most recently, their Converse x Salomon hybrid sneaker.
Just a few hours earlier, from the time of writing, they teased via their Instagram account an image the most ardent anime fans will find familiar, and nostalgic. At the background, a spherical cloud at the epicenter sets the stage for a post-apocalyptic, dystopian story. Therein is one of the most recognizable iconographies in one of pop culture’s most popular IPs: 1988’s Akira.
Overlaid on this image is MARKET’s branding, presided over with another in the anime’s iconic red, brush-stroked typography.
The image is the only Rosetta Stone with no other information disclosed just yet. Understanding the brand’s proclivities for satirical graphics and parody, there’s no telling whether this will be an official collaboration or an attempt at the latter. An Akira redux has been seen on the likes of Supreme and READYMADE who have released collaborative capsules before. Either way, a novel take on a familiar IP is definitely worth a look.
While waiting for more information, consider a look at the Supreme x Bernadette Corporation collection.