Gundam’s Universal Century and Cosmic Era Collide for New STRICT-G Jacket Collection
Bandai has revealed four new official Gundam jackets inspired by two of the franchise’s most popular anime eras, combining lightweight ripstop construction with colors and insignia drawn directly from their respective series.
The new “STRICT-G Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack Ripstop Jacket” and “STRICT-G Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Ripstop Jacket” ranges include designs based on Amuro Ray, Char Aznable, the Earth Alliance and Z.A.F.T..
STRICT-G is Bandai’s dedicated Gundam fashion label, regularly adapting Mobile Suits, characters and military factions into clothing intended to work as everyday apparel rather than conventional character merchandise.
The latest jackets use lightweight but durable ripstop fabric, a material designed with reinforced weaving to help prevent small tears from spreading.
Each design also incorporates embroidered sleeve patches and restrained series references, allowing the colors and faction imagery to carry most of the Gundam influence.
The Char’s Counterattack half of the collection returns to the final confrontation between Amuro and Char, with the two jackets taking their colors from the RX-93 ν Gundam and MSN-04 Sazabi.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED instead provides two military-inspired designs based on the opposing Earth Alliance and Z.A.F.T. forces that drive much of the Cosmic Era conflict.
Let’s take a closer look at all four jackets!
- “STRICT-G Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack Ripstop Jacket – Amuro Ray” – ¥12,100 (approximately $76/£58)
The white model draws its palette from Amuro’s RX-93 ν Gundam and adds embroidered detailing to the sleeve, translating the Mobile Suit’s familiar colors into a comparatively understated outerwear design.
- “STRICT-G Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack Ripstop Jacket – Char Aznable” – ¥12,100 (approximately $76/£58)
Char’s version switches to a red color scheme inspired by the MSN-04 Sazabi, giving the rival pilots matching jacket designs built around the machines used during their final battle.
- “STRICT-G Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Ripstop Jacket – Earth Alliance” – ¥14,300 (approximately $90/£68)
The blue jacket takes its colors from Earth Alliance military uniforms and incorporates an embroidered sleeve patch based on the faction’s imagery.
- “STRICT-G Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Ripstop Jacket – Z.A.F.T.” – ¥14,300 (approximately $90/£68)
Z.A.F.T. receives a burgundy alternative inspired by the organization’s uniforms, with its own embroidered insignia distinguishing it from the opposing Earth Alliance design.
All four jackets are available in M, L, XL and XXL sizing, with polyester used across the main exterior and lining alongside stretch fabric in selected sections.
Char’s Counterattack has been particularly prominent across STRICT-G’s recent fashion releases, with Bandai revealing a new Lee denim collection earlier this month based on the ν Gundam, Sazabi and other imagery from the movie.
Image by Charlotte DavisAmuro and Char have also recently returned through redesigned STRICT-G x ALPHA INDUSTRIES LIGHT MA-1 flight jackets, with Bandai confirming an official US release for both models earlier in October.
Image by James RichardsonTheir rivalry has also formed the basis of STRICT-G’s first Gunpla box art fashion collection, which uses six Mobile Suits to trace the pair from the original Mobile Suit Gundam through Zeta Gundam and their final confrontation in Char’s Counterattack.
Image by Charlotte DavisGundam SEED has received several military-inspired fashion releases of its own, including the return of STRICT-G and ALPHA INDUSTRIES flight jackets based on Athrun Zala and Cagalli Yula Athha in the US earlier this year.
Online pre-orders for all four new ripstop jackets opened through the STRICT-G Online Store on Premium Bandai Japan on October 9 and are scheduled to remain available until 11:00 PM (JST) on October 15, with shipping planned later in October.
The collection will then go on general sale at STRICT-G’s four physical stores across Japan from October 17.
No US release has been announced at this stage, although most recent STRICT-G collections have subsequently received official Premium Bandai US listings so they should appear there in the near future.
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