Videogame clothing and merchandise has changed a lot over recent years, and that’s highlighted as the new ARK/8 Destiny Europa Collection celebrates Beyond Light, the latest expansion for Destiny 2. Clothing companies are increasingly offering high end tie-ins to your favourite games, and the new range from ARK/8 fits into that with t-shirts from €45, Sweatshirts from €82, and jackets at €190.
ARK/8 launched in 2020 in Brussels to launch premium and limited collections based around retro-futuristic cyber-culture, gaming, and fashion. “With over a decade of experience from Level Up Wear, our first venture into merchandising, ARK/8 offers another vision for the collaboration between the fashion and gaming worlds,” said Dimitri van Eetvelde, ARK/8’s Creative Director and co-founder. “In just one year, we have already collaborated with some of the most recognisable names in the video game industry and are delighted to collaborate with Bungie on this product.
This means everything from face masks and socks, to ski goggles and a puffer jacket, all inspired by Europa, the icy moon of Jupiter.
The ARK/8 Destiny Europa Puffer Jacket, for example, costs €190, and features Oeko-Tex certified fabric, with a durable nylon shell and padding from 100% recycled polyester, seat-belt grade straps, a heavy duty engraved buckle, vegan fur trim, and a translucent bade on the left sleve.
Whereas the similarly priced Kata Jacket blends the wing-shape of the Katinginu jackets worn by samurai with a modern bomber jacket, if you want to stant out a little more at the local pub or LAN tournament.
Obviously more traditional gaming clothes are included with t-shirts and hoodies.
And then there are the socks, bads and more. The Crossbody Bag and Industrial Backpack are probably subtle enough to use as general luggage as well as travelling to tournaments or conventions.
And along with the fashion essentials, there’s also the modern necessicity of a facemask. Which is a fairly stylish option at €20.
Personally I’m not young or stylish enough to pull off the Kata jacket, but it’s always good to see videogame clothing and merchandise eveolving beyond cheap printed t-shirts. Especially as gamers have become increasingly diverse in age, gender and more, it’s good to have choices beyond a cheap and guady shirt to show your appreciation of a particularly game. And potentially have something to talk to new people about in a pub or business meeting, instead of pretending to have an interest in golf or football.
You can find the whole range on the ARK/8 website, along with other game collections for Resident Evil, Overwatch, Mass Effect, Borderlands 3 and Dark Souls.
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