Gundam’s Latest NEW ERA Cap Collab Gets Official US Release
Image by Charlotte Davis
Bandai has confirmed a US release for two new official Gundam caps created in collaboration with American headwear brand NEW ERA that feature designs inspired by the original anime’s Black Tri-Stars and Haro mascot.
The new “STRICT-G × NEW ERA Mobile Suit Gundam 9FIFTY Cap Black Tri-Stars” and “STRICT-G × NEW ERA Mobile Suit Gundam 9FORTY Cap Haro” offer contrasting styles, with both incorporating embroidered artwork based on the long-running franchise.
Mobile Suit Gundam premiered in 1979, introducing audiences to the conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon, with the series establishing the foundation for what would eventually become one of Japan’s most successful anime franchises.
The Black Tri-Stars are an elite trio of Zeon pilots consisting of Gaia, Ortega, and Mash, remembered for their coordinated Jet Stream Attack and their confrontation with Amuro Ray’s RX-78-2 Gundam.
Haro, meanwhile, is the small spherical robot that accompanies Amuro during the original series, becoming a recurring mascot throughout the Gundam franchise thanks to its cheerful personality and distinctive appearance.
The new caps have been developed through STRICT-G, Bandai’s official Gundam fashion label, which has produced character-inspired clothing and accessories since 2012 through collaborations with established fashion and lifestyle brands.
NEW ERA has been one of its regular partners, adapting the company’s popular baseball cap designs to feature the emblems, characters, and military organizations that appear throughout the Gundam universe.
The Black Tri-Stars cap is based on NEW ERA’s 9FIFTY snapback silhouette, featuring a structured, high-crowned shape with a wide, flat visor that can be curved according to the wearer’s preference.
Its understated black design incorporates an embroidered Black Tri-Stars insignia on the front in matching black thread, allowing the emblem of Zeon’s famous mobile suit team to stand out subtly against the fabric.
An adjustable snapback closure accommodates head sizes ranging from approximately 57.7 cm to 61.5 cm, with polyester used for the main construction and cotton lining the underside of the visor.
The Haro design takes a different approach, using NEW ERA’s 9FORTY silhouette with an ivory-colored body and bright green embroidery across the front.
Rather than placing a single Haro emblem in the center, the design incorporates several small Haro illustrations jumping around the NEW ERA logo, creating a playful pattern inspired by Gundam’s robotic mascot.
The cap features a curved visor, a slightly deeper fit, and an adjustable rear closure, accommodating head sizes of approximately 56.8 cm to 60.6 cm.
Both releases join an established series of STRICT-G and NEW ERA collaborations, including a collection inspired by Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz and Gundam GQuuuuuuX that introduced several character-themed caps in August 2025.
The partnership has continued throughout 2026, with another collection featuring the Earth Federation, Principality of Zeon, and Char Aznable released earlier this year.
Pre-orders for the new Haro and Black Tri-Stars Gundam x NEW ERA caps, priced at $55, are now open through Premium Bandai US, with shipping currently expected in December 2026.
Premium Bandai US has also recently reopened pre-orders for four caps from earlier collections, giving American Gundam fans several alternatives if the new designs don’t suit their style.
These include two Gundam GQuuuuuuX designs and the Anaheim Electronics and Vist Foundation caps from the Gundam Unicorn collaboration, which originally received a US release earlier this year.
The four returning designs are:
- “STRICT-G × NEW ERA Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX PRINCIPALITY OF ZEON 9FIFTY Cap” – $58
A structured snapback featuring the Principality of Zeon emblem embroidered on the front, with the Gundam GQuuuuuuX logo on the back.
- “STRICT-G × NEW ERA Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX EARTH FEDERATION FORCE 9FIFTY Cap” – $58
An alternative 9FIFTY design featuring the Earth Federation Forces insignia, accompanied by Gundam GQuuuuuuX branding on the rear.
- “STRICT-G × NEW ERA Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn VIST FOUNDATION 9FORTY A-Frame Trucker” – $44
A mesh-backed cap featuring the embroidered emblem of the powerful Vist Foundation, which plays a central role in the events surrounding Laplace’s Box.
- “STRICT-G × NEW ERA Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn ANAHEIM ELECTRONICS 9FORTY A-Frame Trucker” – $44
A matching design featuring the logo of Anaheim Electronics, the fictional manufacturer responsible for developing numerous Mobile Suits throughout Gundam’s Universal Century timeline.
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