Shu Uemura
Shu Uemura x Super Mario
Back in July any gamer who is a fan of both Nintendo and fun makeup palettes was surely overjoyed by the arrival of a new Shu Uemura collection that was inspired by all things Super Mario. Nintendo teamed up with Shu Uemura to create a special collection of beauty goodies that brought a retro gaming vibe to their packaging. The entire Shu Uemura x Super Mario collection features 24 beauty products that range from eye lash curlers and eyeliner to makeup boxes and hair care products.
Most of the celebration of Super Mario is clearly expressed in the packaging, but a full look at the collection also reveals some color choices that were inspired by the game as well. For example, one of the tinted balms is a bright coral color with a lovely added dose of orange undertones. It seems like the perfect wearable color to be deemed “Fire Flower.” Other fun pieces that will be in the collection include a duel-end liquid eyeliner that will come with a star stamp on one end and an eye and cheek palette inspired by Princess Peach.
The collection becomes available on Oct. 1.
LeSportsac Bags
Nintendo x LeSportsac
LeSportsac teamed up with Nintendo to create a variety of fun totes, backpacks, purses and cosmetic bags that are made with avid Mario fans in mind. This is no collection for the Nintendo fan who wants a subtle way to celebrate all that is Mario. The vast majority of the bags pack every inch of the design with Super Mario and Nintendo symbols in a way that leaves very little blank space. It creates a unique type of pattern in and of itself that feels more abstract than some of the other Nintendo fashion collaborations, which adds a nice touch of diversity in the Nintendo’s current lineup of collaborative product lines.
The best part about these bags is the simple fact that you’re getting a LeSportsac bag that just so happens to pay homage to a gaming icon. Gamers know all too well how it feels to pay for gaming apparel and accessories only to see them fall apart within a few weeks. Unless you plan on getting into a serious wrestling match with your bag, LeSportsac bags have a great reputation in terms of quality and durability.
Finally… a gaming bag that will actually stand the test of time.
Uniqlo
UTGP ’17 Nintendo
This collaborative effort between Nintendo and Uniqlo was particularly fun because it allowed fans to get involved in the actual creative process. Fans were given the chance to submit designs earlier this year and the best designs were selected by Shigeru Miyamoto. All the winning designs were mass produced and have been made available to purchase. Meanwhile, the creators behind these fan-made designs got some pretty cool prizes that included cash rewards and signed Nintendo Switch consoles.
The fact that Nintendo fans got to be involved in the design process is cool enough, but this collaborative effort really takes the cake in terms of diversity. While many Nintendo fashion collaborations rarely step outside the world of Super Mario, which is understandable considering Mario is Nintendo’s insanely popular mascot, the Uniqlo collection featured pieces that pay homage to Pokemon, Donkey Kong, and Splatoon.
Vans
The partnership between Vans and Nintendo is probably one of the most popular mainstream collaborations Nintendo has ever locked down. Vans created a wide variety of shoes with designs that celebrated some of Nintendo’s most iconic characters and also featured more subtle designs that gave a nod to the days of retro gaming. To be honest, it was hard not to be nervous when the collaboration was first announced. Super Mario sneakers sounded like they could either be absolutely amazing or downright horrendous. Fortunately, Vans delivered one awesome design after the next.
Hightop Vans with NES controllers printed all around, low top Vans that covers your feet with the likes of Princess Peach, retro gaming-inspired designs that featured 8-bit versions of Mario and Link, and even a host of other pieces like tanks and snapbacks were made available for all Nintendo fans to snag and enjoy.
Moschino
Super Moschino
If there is one high-end designer that never stops dishing out fun collaborations and quirky designs, it’s Moschino. From the Teddy Bear makeup collection with Sephora to its new My Little Pony line, Moschino is always up to something wacky and fun. For that very reason, a Nintendo and Moschino collaboration was hardly surprising to anyone.
This collection kicked off back in 2015 with the name Super Moschino. It featured a fun collection of sweatshirts, hoodies, and some incredibly trendy leather bags all stamped with Mario’s face or a few mushrooms. The collection even included a small bag with the franchises most iconic princesses joining together on the front and a belt with gold coins printed across. Super Moschino actually embodied the best of current fashion trends at the time while also making sure every piece had Nintendo written all over it.
BAPE
Mario to Milo
For this last one, we are reaching all the way back to 2008 when Mario invaded the street wear market in a way that was wildly successful. Nintendo teamed up with BAPE to release a line of apparel that allowed Mario to join Baby Milo’s world for a limited time. It was a rare occasion when Mario’s appearance received a bit of an overhaul so that his appearance would be more similar to that of the BAPE mascot’s look. The collection was simple in design but especially cool as Nintendo acknowledged just how many of their fans were coming from urban markets. This collaboration also led to the release of special Nintendo DS designs that were stamped with Mario and Baby Milo’s adorable faces.
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