It’s blazing sun, in a deep blue sky as Ekagra Agrawal, 21, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu, strolls through an alley. His half sleeve orange tee, featuring his dearest character, Naruto. It looks nothing less than a scene from an anime series. He recalls with starry flickers in his eyes, was 15, when I first saw this show. It’s fun and full of energy. My obsession with it grew immensely, and on my 18th birthday, my mother gifted me merch of this favourite animation of mine.”

For anime lovers, watching their favourite series on screen isn’t enough. The obsession turned into their music, home decor, slang, and most importantly, their outfits. “Wearing a plain basic tee? I could never,” declares Akshita Mishra, 23, a Master’s student in agriculture from Dehradun. “I have a whole section of my closet dedicated to my anime love! My oversized hoodie is covered in Gojo Sator, a fan-favorite character from Jujutsu Kaisen, manga series, and my Demon Slayer, most popular anime series, tee makes me feel powerful. It’s crazy but obviously cool.”

The fashion industry has recognised this shift. Adidas is dropping Pokémon, a Japanese animated series based on the video games, inspired sneakers, H&M is weaving anime motifs into varsity jackets and sweatshirts, and Uniqlo is all about One Piece graphic tees. It’s no longer just about putting anime graphics on clothes, it’s about making wardrobes hit different.

But why is Gen Z so much into this?
Mohini Punmar, 25, a fashion stylist, in Himachal, is unpacking her latest purchase, an oversized hoodie featuring Cardcaptor Sakura, a motion comics of Japan, and a pleated skirt straight out of a 2000s anime. “I watched Neon Genesis Evangelion, Japanese cartoon, when I was 13, and that feeling never left me. Now, my wardrobe is full of nostalgia,” she says, adjusting her pink butterfly clips. For her, anime fashion isn’t just clothing – it’s a statement, a way to carry a piece of her world into reality.

Gen Z want originality, and one- of- a kind dress, that stands out. And this proves that anime fashion is not a passing trend, its going to change a lot in our wardrobes.