Coming out this Friday is a very exciting launch for fans of horror and rock - a collaboration between Oli Sykes and Junji Ito.
Oli Sykes, the lead singer of Bring Me The Horizon, is also the founder of his own clothing line, Drop Dead. It may come as a surprise to many that Oli founded Drop Dead in Sheffield in the early 2000s, while he was still a teenager and before Bring Me The Horizon claimed fame. It was a creative outlet turned into a business, and now, fittingly, will blend with the horror aesthetics of Junji Ito.
Known for his disturbing illustrations, Junji Ito is a Japanese horror manga artist, depicting the macabre and grotesque in his stories, which have gained popularity globally. His works are not for the faint of heart, but he is viewed as one of the greatest artists within the horror genre. It perhaps isn’t a surprise that Drop Dead are collaborating with Junji Ito, with their dark and edgy aesthetic that Ito’s designs will seamlessly fit within.
Launching this week, Drop Dead is releasing a graphics-focused fashion collection showcasing Junji Ito’s work - so fans of horror can bring his stories to life (not literally thankfully, that would be terrifying!) by wearing them, not only reading them. Combining fashion with horror aesthetics, the collection will include hoodies, t-shirts, mesh tops, jackets, and accessories. With a HQ and immersive showroom in Sheffield, fans can explore, gain an insight into the brand workings, and shop all at once!
This limited-edition line aims to transcend the conventions of fashion with exclusive artwork inspired by some of Ito’s most popular works like Uzumaki, Remina, and Venus in the Blind Spot.
Talking about the collaboration, Oli Sykes said: “Junji Ito is a genius. His style is only topped by his substance. I love his work and how he manages to write such fun and engrossing stories while holding up a dark mirror to society, politics, and religion. He’s clearly been a big influence on my brand for many years now so to be creating an official collaboration is a huge honour for me.”
The exclusive line will be available to purchase on Drop Dead’s official website upon its launch on Friday 29th March, at 7pm.