Exclusive merchandise for a franchise is nothing new for clothing companies all over the world. There are many lucrative deals being made all the time to bring the latest designs to market from the shows and movies that we all know and love. What might be surprising though, is to see shoe companies getting in on a piece of the action. This has been the case with Adidas, who has decided to team up with the developers of the popular anime production “Dragonball Z”.
Of course, a collaboration like this is nothing entirely new for the shoe company. In an effort to finally reach the number one spot in athletic shoes, the company has been actively seeking collaborations with top athletes from around the globe as well as popular celebrities and active franchises with broad fanbases. This could be illustrated through their prior collaborations in creative designs with the likes of Disney, Pharrell Williams and many other top names.
The interesting part about this latest idea from the brand is that these are not shoes that are going to be marketed for children as you might expect. In fact, it is believed that the broadest fan base for the anime program is well into adulthood, leaving an untapped realm of possibilities for the sales of these shoes as well as subsequent merchandise that will inevitably follow such as shirts, hats, and more.
Adidas has decided to go all in on the project as well, approving the design of seven different shoes. Fans of the animated series will easily recognize that each of the different pairs will represent one of the seven Dragon Balls popularized throughout the program. Not only does this mean that each pair will look very different from each other, but from a business standpoint, it suggests that serious fans of the program will be more inclined to buy several pairs to make the entire set.
The shoe designs themselves have not been released yet, much to the annoyance of many fans that have been drooling at the news since it recently dropped. The only thing that has been entirely confirmed from the shoe maker and the collaborators is that this new line is set to be released in the fall of this year, making them a very sound addition to the Christmas list of every anime fan this next holiday season.
It is already well understood that these shoes are not going to be overly produced, meaning that they are going to be released under a “limited edition” heading once stores finally get them. The boxes will be made to appeal to the “Dragonball Z” fan with unique artwork (believed to be different for each Dragon Ball design) and possibly coupled with clothing options to accessorize appropriately. While this does not necessarily imply that the cost of the shoes themselves will spike, but it will become difficult to find all seven unique pairs if you are not diligent and ready for their release when they finally hit the shelves in the fall.
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