The beloved shoujo series NANA celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and the occasion couldn’t be marked in a more perfect way. As revealed by Cosmopolitan, Volume 1 of the manga is getting a brand-new collectible cover featuring Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu dressed in recognizable Vivienne Westwood designs.
The special edition of the manga is the perfect nod to the series’ Y2K high-fashion roots, as it ties into Vivienne Westwood’s active presence in fashion today.
The Perfect Collectible for NANA Fans Worldwide
The 25th Anniversary Edition not only features new art on the cover, but goes even further with plaid-sprayed edges all around the sides of the book. It’s a small detail, but yet another homage to one of Westwood’s signature patterns.
The edition will officially hit bookstores on October 21 for $25. It will be available exclusively at Books-A-Million in the U.S. online and in stores. A few other U.S. bookstores will start selling the manga later that week. For any fans lucky enough to be attending New York Comic Con this weekend, VIZ Media will also be selling it at their booth!
Vivienne Westwood stores will also sell the special edition in stores, available starting October 30 globally. Sorry, U.K. readers, you’ll have to wait until November 20 to purchase the book, which will be exclusively sold at Waterstones.
A Collaboration Years in the Making
This collaboration is a long time coming as NANA has always been tied to Vivienne Westwood’s fashion and accessories. Vivienne Westwood entered the fashion world in the 1970s, known for the way she revolutionized British fashion. Her pieces are inherently punk and sophisticated, using patterns like plaid and royal symbols to make a style that is all her own. If punk rock music could morph itself into an outfit, Viveienne would be that ensemble.
Manga creator Ai Yazawa has mentioned over the years that she loves the designer’s style and takes inspiration from the outfits and accessories for different characters, like Shin with his orb lighter necklace or Nana Osaki’s punk-inspired fashion. Seeing this manga actually be sold in a high-fashion store really feels like a full-circle moment, given the connection over the years, and is a fulfilling thing to see for manga in the pop culture world.
NANA follows two young women named Nana who end up on the same train to Tokyo for completely different reasons. They meet randomly, but somehow end up forming an unexpected friendship that even leads them to become roommates in the same apartment in Tokyo. The series has some well-written female characters, often resonating with women in their 20s. The different situations that both Nanas deal with portray the realities of relationships, heartbreak, romance and trying to find yourself at that age.
Still Stylish 25 Years Later
With the series’ mix of Y2K fashion and punk rock music, it’s no surprise that it’s becoming popular again among young people. Despite the fact that the manga has been on hiatus since 2009 due to Yazawa’s health issues, she recently confirmed that she has the final stages of the manga all plotted out, and the end is near.
For anyone obsessed with NANA or even just a fan of the artwork, it’s a gorgeous collectible worth grabbing before it’s gone. If this collaboration is any indication, it could just be the beginning of more official collaboration merch. 25 years is a huge milestone, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more come from this collaboration, whether that’s more special edition mangas, posters, artwork, or even more fashion.
If you haven’t watched the series yet and are in need of a new fixation, you can watch the series now on Hulu 一 just don’t be surprised when you end up tearing up a little every time you see 707 or strawberry glass cups.
Sources: Cosmopolitan, Crunchyroll
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