Most anime clothing is built around character art. That is great until you want to wear it somewhere that calls for something quieter, or you would rather not have faces or figures on what you wear.
Many Muslims, for example, prefer to avoid images of people or animals on clothing worn during prayer. A lot of anime fans just want something cleaner for work or the gym. Our answer is the same for both: one meaningful symbol, small on the chest.
Symbol-only designs
These pieces carry only kanji, geometric patterns or objects, with no people or animals:
- Bond 絆, Strength 力, Love 愛 and Zen 禅
- Shinobi 忍 and Samurai 侍 enso crests
- Tamashii 魂 crossed katana, Kage 影 star, Jiyu 自由 compass, Nami 波 wave
Our Lion, Tiger, Dragon and Water crests include animal imagery, so we leave them off this list.
How to wear them
- Heavyweight tee in black or pepper with straight-leg pants for an easy everyday fit
- A crest hoodie layered over a thobe or under a jacket when it gets cold
- Size up one for the relaxed, boxy look