Netflix Looks Back on 'One Piece's' 26-Year Influence Across Pop Culture Following Its Live-Action Debut

It’s not every day you set off to become a pirate, rally a stylish squad of misfits and begin challenging and transcending societal barriers in hopes of grand treasure. If Eiichiro Oda’s cult-favorite manga series One Piece has taught the masses anything, it’s that adventures are best experienced alongside friends. One Piece is beloved for a reason or two, and Netflix aims to make a third. The streamer’s latest live-action adaptation, ONE PIECE, sets sail with loyal fans and first-time viewers, bringing the series’ beloved cast to cinematic heights. Since its serialization in weekly Japanese anthology magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1997, over 500 million copies of Eiichiro Oda’s treasured manga are in circulation in 61 countries, making it the best-selling manga in history. In the video below, Hypebeast revisits the manga’s massive fan base and a few moments in fashion, music and entertainment that show Oda’s epic franchise unyielding love.

Myriad references to One Piece in fashion and footwear chronicle the manga’s generational popularity, shining a light on its eclectic portrayal of treasure-hungry pirates and its diverse, ever-growing fanbase. From the likes of hand-printed, Nico Robin-adorned denim to a Nike Air Force 1 featuring a functional Gum Gum Pistol inspired by Luffy’s signature (and formidable) offensive attack, VØID is one of many designers carrying the manga’s torch. “One Piece is one of the OG manga series that I used to read and still do now. From reading the manga in the library when I was young, to see[ing] it continually [evolve] as I age — [it’s] one of the few [manga] where we kind of grow with the series,” notes VØID. The self-proclaimed fashion engineer infuses street styles with manga-adapted graphics, pyrotechnic special effects and more enshrining the crew’s unique abilities. In celebration of the series, global fashion brand Zara is releasing ONE PIECE-themed merchandise this month, including a collection of elevated basics like crewnecks, hoodies and T-shirts depicting Straw Hats imagery.

Elsewhere, stylist and editor Alexander-Julian Gibbson cosplayed as infamous One Piece antagonist Donquixote Doflamingo. Gibbson documented his first appearance at an anime convention on Instagram, where he donned a pink feathered cape and graphic denim boots in homage to the terrifying, albeit fabulously dressed menace. Gibbson also had a hand in styling the live-action cast for promotional materials ahead of the series. Likewise, Dua Lipa took to social media in a Jolly Roger-embellished two-piece set alongside Lorenzo Posocco, celebrating the London-based stylist’s birthday and upcoming 2021 Milan Fashion Week. A pop star-approved interpretation of the Straw Hats’ titular pirate branding, the disco queen’s woven bralette and fringe mini skirt featured an all-over skull-and-bones motif paired back to black lingerie and crystal-adorned platform heels.

In entertainment and art, One Piece’s transcendental nature is unmistakable. DJ and music producer Steve Aoki remixed tracks from the anime’s OST during a live performance in LA ahead of the 2022 One Piece Film: Red premiere. Coined the “Straw Hats Pirate Anthem – Steve Aoki Remix,” the song was one of 48 tracks that debuted on the film’s original soundtrack, first premiering at Toei Animation’s “One Piece Film: Red presents Steve Aoki Live” special event held at the 2022 Anime Expo. Rappers Travis Scott and Lil Uzi Vert have expressed admiration for the manga on social media as well, but perhaps the most notable celebrity callout is none other than national treasure Jamie Lee Curtis, who displayed her devout fandom during Halloween Ends‘ press tour. The esteemed actress has even publicly expressed desire to lend her talents to the series, encouraging fans to spread the word.

Multidisciplinary artist Evelyn Tan is known to allude to One Piece in her surrealist artwork, exploring the manga’s supernatural lore through existential themes. “One Piece is full of coming-of-age stories and has a great visual repertoire of powerful and arrogant god-like figures, which I am inspired by,” expresses Tan. Guide, in particular, references Luffy’s spiritual Haki armor. “Luffy is a wealth of inspiration, both with the fluid malleability of his rubber body and the metallic properties thanks to his Armament Haki,” Tan adds. 

Across music, fashion and entertainment, One Piece has solidified itself as one the biggest adventure manga in contemporary culture. 26 years later, Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece continues to enrapture fans with its immersive, unforgettable world-building, galvanizing the most adventurous creators to DIY their own interpretations of the title as wearables, art, footwear and more.

Out now, Netflix’s live-action ONE PIECE series invites diehard and new audiences to an eternal, feel-good voyage across the seas — one that will continue to inspire today’s and tomorrow’s most influential creatives. For fans that refuse to miss out on the limited-edition Zara x Netflix capsule, stay tuned this month to browse and shop the collection.