A new set of Pokémon apparel will come with Pokéball shaped storage pouches.
As reported by Siliconera, Pokémon latest clothing collaboration is with outdoor wear designer The North Face. The new partnership has resulted in two new kids-sized jackets, both of which feature a Pikachu spinting across the front, as well as a new bucket hat, which also sports a design featuring the iconic electric mouse. Notably, the jackets can be rolled up and stored in special Pokéball pouches, which will be available in a variety of styles that mimic the looks of the standard ball, as well as its Great, Ultra and Master variants. The Pokéball containers will be randomly distributed with each jacket purchased. The jackets will retail for 10,890 yen (about $90 USD at current exchange rates,) while the hat will set trainers back 6,380 yen (approximately $50).
Catching this particular Pokémon collaboration, however, maybe a difficult task for even the most seasoned collectors: the new items will be available in Japan and will only be sold for five days. In order to even have a chance at purchasing the jackets or the hat, fans will also need to have a membership with Goldwin, a retailer that specializes in sports and outerwear. Members will need to apply for a chance to the buy the jackets, and if they are approved, they will need to show up in person to a designated Goldwin store at a reserved time and date. Once there, they will be able to purchase only one jacket and one hat from the collection, and they will not be allowed to reserve a specific color or style beforehand. The North Face has not announced plans to sell the Pokémon-branded apparel in other regions.
While the new Pokémon collaboration will be difficult to get your hands on, it's not the most exclusive piece of series merchadise that someone has worn lately; controversial YouTuber Logan Paul recently wore a rare Pokémon card around his neck as he entered the ring at Wrestlamnia 38 earlier this month. The "Pikachu Illustrator" card, which is valued at $5.2 million USD, is one of only 39 copies of the card to exist, as the highly sought-after collectible was only released as a reward for a contest in Japan.
Pokémon originally debuted on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1996 and has since become one of the largest entertainment franchises in the world. The current season of the Pokémon anime series is now streaming exclusively on Netflix, while the next entries in the video game series, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, are scheduled to be released for the Nintendo Switch sometime before the end of 2022.
Source: Goldwin Japan via Siliconera