It’s drop day for the the LIQUID x NARUTO - THE AKATSUKI COLLECTION and we are stoked to share it with the world. What started out as a 4 piece collection centered around the Chenille Cloud Pullover Hoodie, Sweatpants and the two all over print tees expanded into this offering you’re seeing today. To be honest we never expected our first drop to be as successful as it was (considering the few obstacles like literally breaking our software with all the traffic we had) and afterwards we were left in a post onslaught daze.

Slowly we started scratching around and then the creative juices started flowing. It was and has been an enormous team effort to hit to where we are today, they say it takes a village, and it did (leaf village included).

Big shout to the everyone: Mike, Logan, Bree, Gabby, Damian, Artress, Maiki, Dom, G, Rich, 1UP, Steven K, Leanne, Viz, Akane, Michael Lee and too many to remember. Thank you!

Since you’d rather be shopping the site today than reading blog posts I thought I’d make this efficient and give you a little insight into some of the key pieces, details and fabrics we used. This might assist you in your purchasing decisions, and, if not at least you learnt something today :)

Stay tuned for more…

Travis

Global VP of Commerce and Apparel

LIQUID x NARUTO AKATSUKI MINERAL RINNEGAN PAIN TEE

This piece was produced in our factory in Vietnam who sustainably produce for a large number of streetwear brands, we actually planned to use this fabric for another collection but it was just so badass that we thought it would make a sick premium Pain piece. This fabric is heavy and thick, it’s definitely suited for cooler days and climates and best worn a little oversized since it doesn’t have a lot of give. This is premium stuff and paired with the mineral wash that softens and wears it down a little you’ve got yourself a garment that most other brands would typically sell for $ 150 and up. Best of all you won’t find something of this level from your mall store so you’re sure to have a unique and collectible Akatsuki piece.

Retails for $ 45.00 because it’s not your average tee.

LIQUID x NARUTO AKATSUKI SIX PATHS OF PAIN SHORT SLEEVE TECH HOODIE

Mike’s passion piece! Mike called me one day and said he wants to direct at least one piece for the collection, and, of course I was game. For those who don’t know Mike Milanov is our CBDO, he may sound all corporate and stuff but Mike’s got amazing ideas and is a tour de force of mental energy. He’s actually the main reason we’re even working with great properties such as Naruto in the first place. Anyway, back to the product. This piece slaps, it’s a lightweight woven cotton so actually has more of the feel of a shirt or windbreaker and has a mesh lining. The whole idea behind this piece was to have something you could wear even on the warmer days or in humid climates. The cotton shell actually feels more like a nylon and has a great hand feel. Again, this piece is better worn relaxed so you can get the benefits of it being lightweight and comfortable. We added some cool extra features like reflective ink for the six paths and placed them strategically on the garment.

The 3/4 front zip is there to adapt to your body temperature as well as make it easier to get it on and off. I highly recommend getting this, it’s even better in person.

Retails for $ 80.00 because baby I’m worth it.

LIQUID x NARUTO AKATSUKI TECH SHORTS

After the last drop’s hugely successful rip-stop joggers we didn’t want to follow it up with another pair of pants so decided to do a short instead for the Akatsuki. These can be layered over sports leggings or worn as regular shorts. Constructed from the same outer fabric as the Tech Hoodie these are also mesh lined and super comfortable and functional. We added bungee cords on the leg openings for all leg shapes and sizes as well as zipper pockets so your stuff stays in there. There are also some extra velcro closure pockets and great detailing with the raised PVC lockup patch and embroidered icon. I’m pretty sure you haven’t seen a pair of Akatsuki shorts like these anywhere.

Retails for $ 70.00 because these nothing else quite like it.

GO BEHIND THE SCENES ON LIQUID X NARUTO - THE AKATSUKI COLLECTION WITH COMMERCE LEADERSHIP: 

The following items are fully custom cut & sew and designed entirely in house by Team Liquid apparel. All products are officially licensed as part of our Naruto Shippuden collaboration and shipping from stock in both North America and Europe.

THE AKATSUKI COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE NOW

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

We are so excited to announce the upcoming launch of European Ecommerce Store! This store launches Friday July 23rd at 5:00PM CEST and will be accessible online all the time at store.teamliquid.eu. Team Liquid is a global organization competing in global competition, and with our very birthplace being located right here in the Netherlands, this improvement to our store experience has been a long time coming. 

The store is a work in progress and will flourish over time, so please give us your feedback and let us know how your shopping experience goes! Check the FAQ below for more details on what this new store means and SIGN UP HERE for updates on the launch and more #LETSGOLIQUID

Q: What products will be available in the European store? 
On launch, the EU store will have a collection of our latest and greatest Liquid Apparel and we're also bringing back our debut LIQUIDxNARUTO collection as a limited time group buy! This is the first time our latest collab is available for European customers so be sure to check it out. 

Q: What does this mean for European customers? 
The biggest difference between our EU and NA ecommerce stores is the shipping and fulfillment. We opened the EU store so that we could fulfill from within the European Union. This makes shipping and fees much faster and much cheaper for our European fans! 

Q: What additional fees will European customers incur? Customs? Taxes?
As long as you are in the EEA you should have no additional taxes and customs related fees!

Q: What are the regulations around shipping to the UK?
Due to the UK’s departure from the EEA, shipments from our EU store to the UK will be subject to additional duties and fees.

Q: What countries (if any) are excluded from the shipping benefits of the EU storefront?
Countries outside of the European Single Market may be subject to additional fees.

Q: When will the EU store get new drops?
We will do select multi-region launches throughout the year wherein all of our regional storefronts will launch products in close time with one another!

Q: How do I access the EU store?
store.teamliquid.eu or via automatic regional redirect from store.teamliquid.com

Q: What currency will the EU store accept?
Euros and Sterling

Q: Where are EU store orders shipped from?
Slovak Republic

Q: What kind of shipping costs can be expected?
Shipping costs are based on delivery location, weight, and size of items. This will be shown at checkout!

Q: How long will it take for my shipment to reach me depending on the region?
This is entirely dependent on your location! You will receive a shipping estimate at the time of your order.

Q: When is ______ product being added to the store?
We’re rolling out our product list over time in the EU storefront in order to ensure a perfect match in quality and garment to North America. We won’t be one for one at the start, but it’s a goal we’re striving towards so let us know which products matter most to you!

UPDATE 2.12.2021 - 6:00PM PST

#LIQUIDxNARUTO was an incredible success and we couldn't be more proud of our launch today. As you may have seen, the traffic crashed our backend systems forcing us to remove the collection on our site to deploy a fix.

This crash caused us to oversell quantities of certain products in error. We will be honoring these purchases with a second production run and throwing some extra goodies your way in apology for the delay. If you're part of this group, you'll be receiving more info soon via email, as well as an opportunity for a full refund if you don't wish to wait.

For everyone else, we want to show our thanks as we know many of you were unable to get items you wanted, or missed out on certain pieces. As of right now the ENTIRE collection is available for PRE-ORDER until February 19th at 5pm PST. We expect to begin fulfillment of this second wave by May of this year.

Thanks so much for your support,

- Team Liquid Apparel Team

F.A.Q
Q: When can I expect my pre-ordered items?
A: We expect to begin fulfillment on our second wave of production by May of this year!

Q: If I ordered earlier in the day on the 12th, will my items ship from stock?
A: A majority of the items purchased within the first hour of launch and before we pulled the site down will be fulfilled from stock. If this is the case for you, you will receive an email with tracking inside the next week. If your order was transferred to our pre-order production wave, you will receive an email offering to keep your order on the new timeframe or get a full refund.

Q: If I placed an order during the first wave, but want to add a pre-order item, can I combine my orders?
A: Yes! Please place both orders, and reach out to our customer support. We will be as flexible as possible with all requests.

Q: Why is Liquid x Naruto only available in the United States?
A: Our collaboration with Naruto Shippuden is exclusive to the United States due to licensing limitations, we thank you for your support and are working to bring Liquid x Naruto to a global audience in time. The more requests for other regions we get, the better!

Q: What was the focus for this drop?
A: Each piece is developed fully in house with hand selected fabrics, washes, application methods, and more. The launch collection includes a lot of inspiration from Team 7’s members Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto & Kakashi!

Q: What’s next for the collection?
A: We have more drops planned, and will be exploring some of our favorite characters and groups within the Naruto Shippuden universe.

Q: When are you making items for _____ character?
A: We’re already in development on our next drop which covers one of our favorite aspects of Naruto Shippuden. Please give us feedback nonetheless, we want to take Liquid x Naruto in a direction our fans are stoked about!

Q: Why is the Sakura tee not launching with this collection?
A: You may have seen our Sakura character tee in some of our content for LIQUIDxNARUTO! We identified inconsistencies on the printing of this garment that didn’t meet our premium standards and have decided to rework it for a future capsule drop launching in the near future.

Q: Why is this collection priced on the premium side?
A: We price Liquid x Naruto relative to our costs while looking to bring an accessible collection overall to our fans. Officially licensed apparel has a naturally higher cost due to the amount of parties involved.

Q: How can I get involved?
A: We’re super excited to take this first step in the anime community and have plans beyond just the apparel we put up for sale. Keep your eye out for digital fan packs, events, and other engagements we’ll be running through the year for ways to join in on the fun!

/// LQD_V3 DROPS 7.31 - 12:00PM PDT ///

EXPANDING_LQD

LQD_V3_MAUVE HOODIE

Of course, the hoodie is still the staple. With Mauve we wanted to incorporate a color pop that we've considered from the early iterations of LQD. Inspired by the muted desert landscapes of Tatooine, Mauve brings the color but remains flat and subtle in that LQD way. For construction, we went with an asymmetrical front zip pocket complimented by a left-side only triple chevron for an off-kilter look. 

This loose almost slouched vibe is bread and butter for the collection and something you'll find in every piece. Our dry-touch terry cotton plays suit with a perfect blend of drape and structure. Size up for the real post-apocalyptic look or keep it standard for a slimming silhouette. 

LQD_V3_BONE WHITE HOODIE

The return of Bone White was an easy choice after the success of V2's similar colorway. With a white that's just off and a touch of yellow to give it that weathered look, this piece brings versatility of style. Match it to your favorite pair of black jeans and you're set. 

With the same build as Mauve, this V3 body has been in work since 2019. We focused on contrast first: LQD flows, it's fabric-heavy, it drapes, yet we wanted to incorporate these industrial pops with dark metal zippers on both sides and the asymmetrical pouch along with heavy black design hits. The result is a look that's soft and minimal in the broader construction, but chaotic and loud in the details.

LQD_V3_BLACK LS TEE

A minimal beat in the collection, the V3 black long sleeve has three external design elements in total: a center chest screenprint and two chevron embroidery stitch hits on either hip. From there, the story unfolds in garment alone. Split raw edge hems around the neck and sleeves translated the deconstructed feel of LQD to a softer format. 

The pattern itself is slimming and streamlined with a bottom split and dipped back for a draped frame. Hand-feel was the primary focus in fabric selection, landing us on smooth cooling mercerized cotton that's soft to the touch but holds its structure. 

LQD_V3_BONE WHITE SS TEE

This short-sleeve tee is another translation of deconstruction, one of LQD's primary themes. A common practice when developing LQD garments is to think of the clean and perfect version then take steps back from there. What if it's backward, upside down, in this case: inside out. 

These quirks and 'mistakes' become the shining points of LQD garments. From that base, we added designs, again focusing on clashing viewpoints. The waved LQD logo has an organic feel to it, mimicking the spine of a swimming fish and building tension with the sharp synthetic font of the front printed design.

The LQD_V3 collection is the next step in a work in progress. The versioning of LQD represents a constant evolution and the pace of our creative development. We can't wait for you to get your hands on V3 and to show you what's next. 

A 24-year-old photographer from Minas Gerais, Brazil, Maikon Alves is responsible for our powerful new jersey design. A design that will be seen all around the world, worn by our teams competing in various major tournaments. 

Alves conceptualized the jersey in July, the result of studying eight different design concepts. This is the design that came out on top, a representation of our competitiveness, as well as the success of all of our teams and players. 

What was the inspiration for this jersey?

I tried to show the traits and the strength of Team Liquid. The flow, the waves, the horse logo… Of course, I tried to capture the horse, all the speed, the flow of its mane. 

Why did you decide to include the stripes?

Because I see Team Liquid as a team with extreme expression in esports, more than the other teams. The stripes outline Team Liquid’s strength. 

What do they represent?

The stripes represent something like victory, along with the golden detail. I would say it would be a pursuit of victory. It represents something Liquid is always looking for. Winning, gold… So the gold lines are in relation to that, as well as the five players in a lineup symbolized by the five lines as well. Like a constant race in search of victory. And the search is very laborious, taking effort and time. 

Why did you use the colors you did?

So the case for the blue and the darker colors is because we wanted to make it a darker color without moving too far away from the team's theme, which is the blue. We decided to leave the darker parts of the jersey as navy blue, which the fans always want and request. The white, in contrast, adds some brightness. 

We wanted this design to differentiate us from other teams, who often use solid colors in their jersey. So it’s what makes us different, not only on playstyle or as an organization, but also on our jerseys. Everyone who sees this jersey can remember it’s Team Liquid. 

How long have you been designing?

Indirectly, it’s almost six years working in design. But on design of jerseys or jersey concepts specifically, it’s almost been one year or so.

What got you into design in the first place?

A long time ago when I was about 12 years old, I went to a friends house to play PS2 games. And one day I got there and I saw him messing around with Photoshop. He was changing the color of things, and after that I knew I wanted to mess with Photoshop, too. I started changing colors of things and everything else.

Brasileirando 🇧🇷 | @TeamLiquid Concept pic.twitter.com/DRtePJHbog

— mKzinn (@mkzinn_) July 1, 2019

What got you involved in Team Liquid for this project?

I first met the Rainbow Six roster. I was a huge fan of them before they were a team, but then they started to reunite. I was already a huge fan, and I was a fan of Team Liquid as well. So seeing them playing together made me want to show the Brazilian fans that I was also a fan through design.

The design I came up with for this jersey was using colors I would want to wear myself. I made a concept and the guys from the team liked it, along with the players, the staff, and the fans. They all liked my work. And then I got in touch with the TL guys. 

So, to sum it up, it was a passion for the game, the team, and the players, and to show what I would like to wear on Team Liquid. That’s how I got involved with the team.