Nana And Its Unique Relationship With Vivienne Westwood

While most fans of bestselling manga Nana celebrate its hard-hitting plotline, the fashion-lovers among them also praise it for another reason: its devotion to honoring the designs of Vivienne Westwood. 

No matter the plotline or the trials and tribulations a character is suffering through, it is rare to find this designer brand absent. Whether it be characters dressed in outfits reminiscent of those worn in Westwood's runway shows, or the blatant featuring of the brand’s logo itself, Vivienne Westwood is woven into the very fabric of the story. 

Few series form such an exclusive bond tied to only one brand. The punk nature of Westwood’s creations complements the rock and roll world of Nana. Uniquely, the brand becomes a portal into the story. There are multiple panels featuring specific pieces, and some have even become trademarks for certain characters! For example, the character Nana Osaki is repeatedly seen wearing Westwood’s “Armour” ring. This ring is not only a cool piece of jewelry that matches her punk aesthetic, rather the physical manifestation of her guarded exterior. 

Westwood’s designs become a writing tool for author Ai Yazawa to bring traits residing in her characters to the surface, literally being worn for readers to see and interpret. In this way, the manga's relationship to Vivienne Westwood surpasses an admiration of aesthetics. The brand serves as an important medium that helps the audience understand the essence of the characters and world they are growing acquainted with. It is only recently that Vivienne Westwood actually collaborated with Nana, and fans are ecstatic.

 As of October this year, it was announced that a special limited-edition cover of the manga would be released in collaboration with Vivienne Westwood for the manga's 25th anniversary. The cover features the main characters, Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu, decked out in Vivienne Westwood, standing side by side. Their outfits serve as a visual manifestation of their contrasting personalities. Osaki is dressed in deep reds and blacks, a reflection of her more edgy persona. On the other hand, Komatsu is dressed in light pink, showcasing her cheerful nature. The sides of the manga are covered in Vivienne Westwood's iconic plaid in bright pink, blue, white, and black. 

The final product is something as unique as it is timeless, and is certainly a must-buy for fans of both manga and fashion everywhere. This long-anticipated collaboration will be available to purchase for the public in the United States through Books-A-Million on October 30th. 

Strike Out, 

Alara Ataman

Boca Raton

Alara Ataman is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine. An avid fan of fashion, this Pisces can be found scrolling through Depop or elbows deep in a thrift store looking for the perfect piece. If you can’t find her doing this, you may find her browsing numerous cafes in her endless quest for the perfect iced coffee. You can reach her at @leopard_fawn on most social media platforms.