When most people think of Nintendo, they think of games like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda or Duck Hunt. It's understandable why — Nintendo has been behind some of the biggest, most influential games in the history of the industry.
Of course, Nintendo has always been at the forefront of video game merchandise, too. Back in the '80s and '90s, Nintendo's mascot was impossible to avoid, and Mario's mug was on everything from children's toys to cereal boxes. Long story short, the ridiculous saturation of gaming merchandise that fans see today wouldn't exist without Nintendo.
It's ironic, then, that Nintendo merch is a bit harder to come by these days. Mario used to be everywhere, but the publisher has pulled back a bit as of late: most officially-licensed merchandise falls more into the collectibles category (think plush dolls and wall art). As for clothing, while it's easy to find a Mario T-shirt online, it's probably fan-made.
That's where Vans' new collection comes in. The company's latest line, inspired by the classic NES games of the '80s, is one of the few officially-licensed collections you can find today.
All in all, the collection looks great — any classic Nintendo fans should definitely be happy with what Vans and Nintendo have come up with.
The best part is you won't even have to wait all that long before you can pick up your favorite set: the Vans x Nintendo collection goes on sale this Friday, June 3.
For more on the collection, check out Vans' official site.
