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Iconic quotes, air pirates and a very subtle Gina reference make this collection a must-have for fans of this Ghibli classic.

Back in 2017, Studio Ghibli founded a cool new streetwear label called GBL. Short for “Ghibli”, the new brand filled the niche for cool and stylish Ghibli gear, bringing out everything from Hawaiian shirts to skateboard clocks and even Russel Athletic clothing, all with details that set them apart from anything else on the market.

Now, the brand is catering to Porco Rosso fans with a trio of T-shirts that pay homage to the coolest characters in the film – Porco himself and the Air Pirates.

▼ The first shirt in the range is called “A Pig That Doesn’t Fly Is Just a Pig”.

This design recreates one of the most memorable moments from the film, when Porco calls Gina and delivers his famous line, “A pig that doesn’t fly is just a pig.”

Rather than plastering the character of Porco on the front or back of the T-shirt, this one adds some unique visual interest by placing the porcine pilot on the side, near the hem.

Dressed in his iconic trench coat, Porco can be seen on the phone, which cleverly connects to Hotel Adriano, the seaside hotel owned and run by Gina.

The design details continue on the tag, where Gina can be seen on the phone, showing concern for Porco.

▼ The next shirt in the range is called “Air Pirates Coalition”.

This design shines a spotlight on the airships of the Air Pirates Coalition, with meticulous attention paid to every detail.

A Mamma Aiuto Gang flag made from canvas fabric adds a stylish yet subtle accent on the front, so you can ensure all the attention is drawn to the planes on the rear.

Every aircraft has been carefully recreated, with close attention paid to the individual planes, characters, colour schemes and even the crew members, all rendered with fine linework to faithfully capture the world of the film.

▼ The Air Pirates also make their presence felt on the tag.

▼ The third and final shirt is “Ambush”

Inspired by the scene where the Mamma Aiuto Gang lies in wait for Porco, this playful design makes clever use of the shirt’s seamless body, allowing the artwork to flow continuously from the front to the back.

Both the tension and humour of the film is captured in this design, which brings the ambush of Porco by the Air Pirates to life in a humorous way.

▼ The artwork wraps around from the front to the back to create a sense of movement…

▼ … and the Mamma Aiuto Gang flag is sewn onto the chest as a design accent.

As with many GBL releases, this collection is designed for adults who want to express their love for Studio Ghibli in cool and understated ways. All three shirts are made from 100 percent cotton, in a classic fit that’s designed to soften with wear, and are available in sizes S to XXL.

Purchases are limited to two shirts per person across all sizes, and they can be purchased at GBL stores and through the official Donguri Kyowakoku online store (links below) while stocks last.

Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku
Featured image: Donguri Kyowakoku
Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3)
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Get a taste of local culture with a new souvenir range that captures the unique charms of Japan’s regions.

Starbucks has always been a great supporter of the neighbourhoods in Japan where it sets up shop, blending into the traditional landscape with uniquely designed branches, teaming up with local craftsmen to create new goods, and even supporting local artists with gallery space for exhibitions.

Now, the chain is supporting a wide swathe of the country’s regions by releasing a brand new range of exclusive souvenirs, in what Starbucks is calling the “Discovery Series”.

According to Starbucks, this new collection replaces the Been There Series, the chain’s previous regional line, serving up a whole new look that shines a light on everyday life in various regions with more colourful, playful illustrations.

Like its predecessor, the Discovery Series has been created in collaboration with Starbucks employees from each region, who provided insight into local landmarks, activities and customs that best represent their areas. The product development team visited each region and held roundtable discussions with 10 to 15 employees to fully unearth the unique characteristics of each area.

▼ One of the actual roundtable discussions, albeit at rectangular tables.

The new collection aims to introduce more locally inspired details than ever before, with designs that contain some surprising motifs you wouldn’t expect to see on a regional souvenir.

▼ The Tokyo design, for instance, showcases the city’s famously crowded commuter trains.

Osaka includes references to manzai (a popular two-person comedy style where one plays the fool, known as “boke” and the other a straight-man, “tsukkomi”). It also pays homage to the local “ame-chan” culture, a tradition of carrying sweets and offering them to others as a friendly gesture.

The Fukuoka design celebrates the region’s lively cheering culture, with references to the passionate group chants often heard at local festivals and sporting events.

One of the sweetest details across all the designs is the Starbucks paper cup, which is hidden somewhere in each artwork, continuing a tradition from the Been There Series that encourages customers to search for the tiny illustration like a treasure hunt.

The designs adorn a wide range of products, starting with the Discovery Series Mug (414 millilitres [14 ounces], 2,800 yen [US$19]).

There will be a total of 19 regional mugs covering Hokkaido, Sendai, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yokohama, Kanazawa, Nagano, Gifu, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita and Okinawa.

There’ll also be a nationwide Japan design, for those who might not be able to choose a favourite area and instead want to show their love for the entire country.

The stainless steel bottles, pin badge sets and eco bags will be available in a Japan edition and six regional designs: Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa.

▼ Each 473-millilitre Stainless Steel Bottle will retail for 5,800 yen, while the Pin Badge Set will retail for 2,950 yen.

▼ In addition to the eco bags (2,800 yen each) there’ll also be a notebook (2,200 yen), in the Japan design only.

According to Starbucks, the new collection reflects the changing way people travel around Japan, with increasing numbers of visitors seeking deeper cultural experiences beyond the country’s best-known landmarks. As more visitors make return trips to the country, they tend to explore further afield, and these regional exclusives serve as a fond reminder of the unique joys to be found on journeys made beyond the beaten path.

The Discovery Series will be available at participating Starbucks stores across Japan from 22 July, with sales at the online store starting a day earlier, on 21 July. With 47 prefectures around Japan, and each one once having its very own exclusive Frappuccino, we’re looking forward to seeing what other discoveries will be made when the series expands in future.

Source: Press release
Featured image: Starbucks Japan
Insert images: Starbucks Japan, Press release
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