This PORTER x Pokémon Collection Is For OG Trainers Only
Model: Backpacks, two-way briefcases, shoulder bags
Release Date: December 24
Price: ¥27,500-¥57,200 (about $240-$500)
Buy: Pokémon Center Shibuya, Pokémon Center Website
Editor's Notes: PORTER keeps the anime (okay, anime-ish) collections coming, following its My Neighbor Totoro collaboration with a line of bags inspired by the OG Pokémon Game Boy games: Red and Green.
But wait! Red and Blue were the first two games, weren't they?
Well, that's technically correct when referring to the franchise's international games but, in Japan, the series started with Pokémon Red and Green — the Japanese Blue version was a standalone update. You learn something every day.
It fits since this is a Japanese collaboration, too.
Anyways, what you've got is a series of thematic PORTER bags in black and khaki, elevating the long-running accessory company's signature backpacks, two-way briefcases, and shoulder bags with accents drawn from the Pokémon Red and Green packaging.
PORTER's trademark hardy nylon twill now sports a tonal all-over pattern of various Pokémon taken from the original 150-character lineup — look close and you can see the silhouettes of Mankey, Krabby, Graveler, and Ekans, to name just a few.
The big thematic touch comes by way of the red and green Pokémon patches on the lower left of each bag. They're faithful representations of the actual box art, down to the Charizard and Venasaur shapes and "THE POKÉMON MONSTER TRAINER" text.
As Pokémon wraps up its 25th anniversary, we've seen drops ranging from ultra-expensive sculptures to limited edition TCG boxsets.
These PORTER bags aren't as rare or expensive as either but they're an appreciably understated way to end a year that's brought in partnerships with famous fans like Post Malone and J.Balvin.