STREET STYLE MEETS STREET FIGHTER: GENTLE MONSTER X TEKKEN 8’S GAME-CHANGING COLLAB

all PHOTOs: gentle monster

As both a childhood gamer and a lover of fashion, the idea of a Tekken collaboration with a high-end brand always seemed like a dream. Yet here we are, witnessing a surreal fusion of my two passions. I’m instantly taken back to the days when all my sisters, cousins and I would crowd into our kids lounge, the excitement as we inserted the new Tekken game disc into our PlayStation 1, and the loud hum it was about to emit that would drown out our yelling. Tekken was our battleground, I’ll never forget the feeling of duelling each other, always seeming to pick cool-chick Michelle Chang, while my sister, with uncanny precision, used Eddy Gordo's capoeira style to fly-kick me right in the face.

What excites me the most about this collaboration isn’t just the nostalgia, but the groundbreaking merging of two vastly different industries — gaming and fashion. It’s a collision of worlds that seem so distant yet come together to create something entirely new, something artistic. It awakens the inner child in me, the one who always wanted to see gaming transcend its borders and make its mark on other creative fields.

The Gentle Monster x Tekken 8 collaboration is a perfect example of this. Gentle Monster, renowned for its bold, avant-garde eyewear designs, has a reputation for pushing the boundaries of fashion. Pairing that with the powerful energy of Tekken — a game that has defined fighting genres for decades — creates a fusion of art, nostalgia, and style that is both unexpected and exhilarating.

Each piece in the collaboration seems to draw inspiration from Tekken’s iconic characters, blending Gentle Monster’s cutting-edge design philosophy with elements from the game’s world. Whether it’s the sleek, futuristic designs that mirror Tekken’s high-tech arenas or subtle nods to beloved characters, this collection isn’t just eyewear; it’s a celebration of two cultural giants.

‘Kazuya has been reimagined through the unique lens of Gentle Monster to present bold eyewear alongside a daring campaign’

For long-time gamers, the collaboration is a reminder that the games we grew up with are now being recognized as a legitimate part of popular culture and art. For fashion enthusiasts, it’s a fresh take on how brands can innovate and find inspiration in unconventional places. This partnership is more than just merchandise; it’s a symbolic bridge between childhood memories and the future of fashion.