several items from handbags to hoodies with Pokémon characters Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite in celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, marking the year of the wood dragon. The collection is available to the public from January 4.  Some notable anime collaborations from the past year include: Jimmy Choo x Sailor Moon: February 2023 In honor of the manga/anime series’ 30th anniversary, Jimmy Choo released a limited-edition handbag, shoe, and accessories drop inspired by the popular franchise. Items in the collection ranged from US$495 to US$1,800 and practically sold out overnight.  Loewe x Howl’s Moving Castle: February 2023 Fashion and leather luxury goods brand Loewe teamed up with Studio Ghibli for its third and final collaboration collection, with a focus on one of the studio’s most well-known productions, Howl’s Moving Castle. Previous Loewe x Studio Ghibli collaborations highlighted the studio’s other classic films My Neighbor Totoro in 2021 and Spirited Away in 2022. Levi’s x Princess Monokoke: August 2023 The apparel retailer also teamed up with Studio Ghibli for a limited-edition collection with items inspired by the company’s film Princess Mononoke, items in this release ranged from US$62 to US$186. Tiffany & Arsham Studio & Pokémon capsule collection: November 2023 The jewelry collection included items ranging from US$1,290 to US$29,000, and even though the pieces were only available for purchase online for 24 hours, the assortment immediately sold out.  Moving forward into 2024, the retail industry should expect to see even more anime-themed drops scattered throughout the year, especially those featuring dragon-inspired characters.  What is fueling anime-inspired limited-edition fashion collections? Like the return of many Y2K fashion trends, a key factor behind the rise of anime and manga-inspired fashion and beauty collections is nostalgia, especially for millennial and Gen Z consumers who grew up on animated series such as One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, and Sailor Moon.  Additionally, the global anime market at large is expanding at a rapid rate with loyal and new followers. According to market analysis company Grand View Research, the global anime market was estimated at US$28.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.8 per cent from 2023 to 2030.  In addition to merchandise from publishing companies and toy retailers, brands, both mid-tier and luxury, within the fashion and beauty industry also want a piece of the anime pie.  Krista Corrigan, a retail analyst at retail intelligence company Edited, told Inside Retail, “Investment from major luxury brands in the anime world is soaring,” referencing both Tiffany & Co and Fendi’s collaborations with Pokémon as an example. The retail analyst noted that consumers should expect to see more fashion collaborations from this anime property specifically. “The impact is trickling down into the mass market,” Corrigan elaborated. “In the past few months, Zara, H&M and Abercrombie & Fitch have all identified Pokémon as a worthy license ahead of the holidays. Arrivals of Pokémon-related products in the mass market have grown 60 per cent year-over-year over the past three months.  “Product trends have shifted from footwear to accessories like hats and bags, driving down the overall average price of assortments in both the US and UK. In Zara’s drop, items like T-shirts, backpacks, and pajamas have moved well and are out of stock, while more expensive varsity jackets and hoodies remain available.” In addition to having a relatively built-in audience from an ever-growing fanbase of anime fans, there is also a financial benefit for retailers to license popular franchises. As Corrigan explained, “Licensing is a lucrative bet for several retailers by up-charging for popular themes and characters. H&M charges US$17.99 for a plain oversized sweatshirt, but US$27.99 for the same style with Hello Kitty and Pokémon graphics. The increase can help provide a margin cushion, particularly through the heavy promotional holiday periods.”