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Uniqlo Reveals New Sketch-Designed Pokémon T-Shirts for Summer Launch

Pokémon and fashion retailer Uniqlo have joined forces once again for a new line of illustrated graphic tees, just in time for summer. The upcoming “Pokemon Sketch” line features new takes on fan-favorite pocket monsters like Pikachu and Gengar.

Scheduled for release at the end of July this year, the t-shirt collection will be available in men’s, women’s and kids’ sizes. Featuring charming new designs, the Pokémon Sketch collection consists of four adult designs and four kids’ designs, each themed around a different Pokémon and featuring its own unique personality.

Pikachu and several of his adorable Pokémon friends will be available as delicious varieties of donuts as part of an official collaboration with Krispy Kreme.

Uniqlo's New Adult Pokémon Sketch T-Shirts Feature Pikachu, Ditto, Gengar, and Snorlax

The basic graphic tees feature a front and back design accompanied by a signature saying for each Pokémon. The first design features a bouncing Pikachu with “Fully Charged Energy” emblazoned across the chest. The back reads, “You can rely on your electric attacks,” with a Pika tail added for good measure. Another design features Ditto appearing in the text on the tee—“What are you turning into?”—and interrupting the line to say hello. Gengar is featured on a black tee with a chalk-like interpretation of the shadow-type Pokémon; above it is its Pokédex number, #0094. The final piece in the adult collection is a cool blue Snorlax tee. The front features the saying “Eat More, Sleep More” with an outline of the Pokémon’s iconic bite; the back features a very relaxed Snorlax waving hello. Each shirt will cost 1,500 yen (US$$9.59), with adult sizes ranging from XS to 4XL for men. There has been no confirmation yet on women's sizing.

Uniqlo's Upcoming Pokémon Sketch Kids' T-Shirts Feature Piplup, Eevee, Sylveon, and Dragonite

The kids’ collection takes a cuter route, featuring names like Piplup, Eevee, and Sylveon. The first design is a smaller version of the adult Pikachu T-shirt, providing great outfit coordination for parents of aspiring Trainers. In a design exclusive to the kids’ line, Piplup appears on a light pink T-shirt with the phrase “Time for a break” below. Another design depicts Eevee following its next evolution, Sylveon, in Abbey Road style. The final design features Dragonite, which was recently the focus of The Pokémon Company’s collaboration with Italian fashion house Fendi for its FENDI x FRGMT x POKÉMON collection. The front features the phrase “It’s fun to be with you,” accompanied by a Poké Ball on a black T-shirt. The back has Dragonite outlined in yellow next to its Pokédex number, #0149. The kids’ collection will retail for 990 yen (US$6.30) and will be available in sizes 100–140 cm.

Pokémon fans will be thrilled with Sideshow and The Wand Company's Quick Ball collectible replica, which will make them feel like real Pokémon trainers.

The Pokémon Company continues its aggressive expansion of merchandise offerings, seeking to explore new and more niche markets. April of this year saw the launch of Monpo's brand in an effort to appeal to young children and their parents; in a statement, the company said: “With the expansion of the popular Monpo's expression in more markets, parents around the world will have another playful and adorable way to introduce the Pokémon world for your little ones.” In addition to multimedia offerings such as the YouTube web series titled “Fun Times on Monpoké Island” and a series of schoolbooks, Pocket Monsters has also collaborated with luxury children’s brand Bonpoint on a line of clothing and cosmetics. Like Uniqlo, the retailer continues to partner with popular anime IPs such as Attack on Titan and Narutoand recently saw the launch of a Oshi no Ko collection in anticipation of the second season's release in July.

Pokémon

Spanning a multitude of media, including TCGs, video games, manga, live-action films, and anime, the Pokémon franchise is set in a shared world of humans and creatures with a wide variety of special abilities.

Created by: Satoshi Tajiri
First Movie: Pokémon: The First Movie
Last movie: Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
First TV show: Pokémon (1997)
First episode air date: April 1, 1997
Video games): Pokémon GO, Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokémon Red and Blue, Detective Pikachu, Detective Pikachu Returns, Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! , Pokémon: Come on, Pikachu!