Thundercat’s Japanese Inspired S/S 24 Collection Drops At Dover Street Market

When it comes to crossovers, are there any more exciting than fashion and music? Obviously not, considering we've dedicated an entire podcast to the link between the two mediums. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that when a musician like Thundercat drops a collaboration with London’s favourite cult retailer Dover Street Market, our ears immediately perk up.

While renowned for his virtuosic musical abilities and his distinctive style that effortlessly blends genres such as Neo-Soul, Nu Jazz, R&B, and Funk, Thundercat has long been recognised for his playful, technicolored manga-influenced fashion sense. Ahead of his highly anticipated UK and EU tour, which is on the brink of selling out, Thundercat has graced us with his S/S 24 collection exclusively with Dover Street Market.

The collection pays homage to the artist's upbringing in Los Angeles, drawing inspiration from the city's vibrant culture and Thundercat's eclectic tastes. Elements such as anime, heritage fashion houses, and Thundercat's beloved feline companion, Tron, are intricately woven into the designs. The result is an exquisite fusion of joyful influences and the unmistakable cool of Thundercat's musical heroes.

'Growing up playing music around LA it was always stereotypical for a musician to wear a suit to look ‘respectable’ and I hated that so very very much. My heroes were the likes of Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix and everything Japanese and Pharrell. I was always encouraged, and could see the importance of being yourself early on by them. In the family I come from, to be individual – that is who we are. Individually together. That is what this collaboration represents. Individual, together.'

Thundercat's love for Japanese art and pop culture is evident in the collection which features kimonos produced in collaboration with Japanese artisans Robe Japonica, alongside collegiate-style cardigans adorned with anime-inspired prints and logos. Nostalgic references abound in the collection, including a red and white football shirt embellished with team badges and Thundercat's signature logo.

'I feel like my sense of fashion was passed down to me by my parents,' Thundercat explains. 'As an illustrator, I loved seeing the colour palettes used in creating cartoon characters I loved to watch growing up. I always wondered to myself, why most of the things I was attracted to aesthetically, I did not see in real life? And it would make me question what was wrong with everyone?'

The collection includes a limited run of 250 holographic crew necks, crafted in Los Angeles from 100% cotton, as well as 170 distressed, oversized all-cotton shirts, dropping exclusively at Dover Street Market on 2 April.