Shibori Threads is a name which will undoubtedly be known to contemporary fans of modern streetwear and heavy music, having brought together sleek, statement tie-dye aesthetic and a plethora of core subgenres. There is something for everyone. It is an approach modelled upon that of DropDead, the alternative clothing brand brainchild of Bring Me The Horizon vocalist Oli Sykes, though Shibori swaps the often-freakish aesthetic for a classy, colourful template which can be adapted for their collaborators. Among these are some of the most influential post-hardcore, metalcore, and deathcore artists of the century, including Gojira, Spiritbox, Killswitch Engage, August Burns Red, Dance Gavin Dance, as well as Brand of Sacrifice, the ferocious musical outlet of owners Kyle Anderson and Leo Valeri.
Nearly two and a half years on from the clothing outfit’s explosive launch, partnering with a number of fellow deathcore bands, Shibori Threads have announced perhaps their biggest collaboration yet: Dark Souls. The Bandai Namco franchise shares a very similar grit and grimdark aesthetic to Berserk, the IP from which Brand of Sacrifice took their name, and this collaboration comes on the tailwind of the most recent instalment, Elden Ring, which took the internet by storm last year, winning a number of awards and being near-universally lauded.
Working with such a popular video game franchise, particularly one which aligns so closely with the owners’ creative influences, is sure to be a dream come true, and that is reflected in the quality of the products unveiled today. “We’re incredibly excited to reveal our debut drop in the gaming space, partnering with Bandai Namco and the legendary Dark Souls franchise,” Anderson commented. “Their games are critically acclaimed with global influence, and some of my personal favourite titles. It’s clear that games like these have insane reach, and we’re stoked that we can help to bring the captivating world of Dark Souls into the metal scene through our garments.”
This limited-edition run features three unique custom cut, dyed, and sewn sweatsuit collections: Artorias Collection, Solaire Collection, Seigmeyer Collection, as well as a custom dyed You Died tee, a nod to the death splash-screen of a franchise notorious for its infuriating difficulty. It’s a good thing Shibori have previously shown their appreciation for the gaming world by giving away custom-painted PS5s and a Nintendo Switch, because fans will need replacement controllers after a long session of Dark Souls. The collection, as with all Shibori products, will only be available for a limited time; all previous drops have sold out within their sale windows, with some doing so in under twenty-four hours.
“Kyle and I have been active in the music industry and very tuned into streetwear and alternative fashion for a long time now,” explained Valeri, “so we set out to create a brand that bridges the barrier between the edgy imagery you find in metal, and the robust palettes and high quality of today’s streetwear trends. Coming up in the metal scene, we noticed something missing when it came to creative and colourful band merchandise. Most rock artists just print on black shirts… which is kind of boring, considering the extremely lively and exciting music they often make.“
The combination of each garment being unique and handcrafted, collaborations with a finger on the pulse of the modern alternative scene, and exclusiveness makes the tie-dye innovators one of the hottest metal merch properties, with endless possibilities. Their Dark Souls run is sure to be one to remember. All designs are available now at their store, with shipping available worldwide.