Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO has named the winners of their collaboration with Nintendo contest for an upcoming limited release T-Shirt line based on some of its most iconic characters. This collection features designs involving a more diverse amount of Nintendo franchises such as Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and Kirby. What makes these designs even more interesting from previous efforts is that they are all winners of a contest UNIQLO and Nintendo held back when we all called the Switch the NX. Like previous UNIQLO contests involving Star Wars and Disney, the clothing retailer asked for the best designs from fans to be chosen by no other than Nintendo figurehead Shigeru Miyamoto in hopes that their designs would be featured in UNIQLO stores worldwide. After receiving an astonishing 16,000 designs last august, UNIQLO and Nintendo finally narrowed it down to 3 winners and 22 runner ups.
The first place prize of $10,000 and an autographed Nintendo Switch was awarded to quite possibly the classiest retro Mario shirt in existence.
The winners of 2nd and 3rd place went to a brilliantly colorful Splatoon shirt and more abstract The Legend of Zelda design.
Alongside the unveiling of the contest's three winners UNIQLO and Nintendo are also making the runners up available for purchase, and quite frankly, some of them are pretty great for people who don't want to wear clothing that screams video games all over it but still want a nod to the hobby.
With the recent trends and general interest in Nintendo it's not surprising to see more fashionable brands doing interesting things with the characters we all know and love.
The shirts will go on sale 5/18 online and 5/19 in stores and are priced at around $14 for adults and $10 for kids.
What shirts interest you? Do you have a favorite? Were you surprised that Nintendo actually selected one Metroid shirt for the 25 shirts? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
