It All Started with a Mouse: Mickey’s Glove Print on Fashion
Graphic by Jessica Chen.
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in 1928. The world’s most iconic mouse has become an emblem for American culture, and grown to be one of the most famous symbols and figures that anyone could instantly recognize.
In the most literal sense, Mickey captured our attention when he appeared in one of the first cartoons with sound entitled “Steamboat Willie,” which launched the Walt Disney Animation company into almost a century of continued success.
Over the years, Mickey Mouse has left his handprint, or glove print (since he is always wearing gloves), on every aspect of our culture. His impact on fashion, specifically, cannot go unnoticed. From casual Disney fans going to one of the many theme parks around the world or the high fashion labels that incorporate Mickey and his friends into their designs, the mouse can be seen everywhere.
A selection of some Mickey Mouse merchandise that was released by Disney to celebrate the mouse’s 90th birthday in 2018; Image via Bustle
A Disney fan wearing an aesthetic Mickey sweater in front of Cinderella’s castle at Walt Disney World; Image via Pinterest
Disney’s fanbase, or Mouseketeers as they like to call themselves, have all sorts of clothing that either clearly or subtlety reference their favorite character. There are almost 2,000 apparel products listed on the official Disney merchandise site, which range from casual tees to extravagant dresses. Many Mouseketeers choose to wear their favorite gear to the parks when they can.
Disney clothing can also come from unofficial sources, like independent shops on Etsy. Creators who are passionate about certain Disney films or characters create their own merchandise to sell to others. Michael Weiss, aka @michaeldoesdisney on Instagram with over 50 thousand followers, began selling Disney bracelets, sweatshirts, and other clothing items during quarantine. Since then, he has started his own website where he fulfills hundreds of Disney orders a week.
“I’d say that the most popular designs are anything with a silhouette of Mickey or the shape of his face on them,” Weiss told STITCH. “They seem to be an understated way of saying I’m cool and I love Disney!”
Michael Weiss wearing one of his popular designs; Image via Michael Does Crafts
A handmade, tie-dye Mickey sweatshirt available on his website; Image via Michael Does Crafts
Disney fanatics are not the only ones who think Mickey Mouse can elevate an outfit. In 2016, Coach was one of the first high fashion brands to partner with Disney to create a timeless collaboration that immediately sold out everywhere.
Some of the first pieces Coach released in collaboration with Disney, many of which feature Mickey Mouse; Image via My Disney Dorks
Over the past five years, Coach has continued to create Disney collections as more fashion houses have hopped on the trend. To celebrate the Year of the Rat in 2020, Gucci released some of their iconic products with a reference to Mickey Mouse and a sprinkle of Disney magic. The addition of the mouse silhouette blends in seamlessly with Gucci’s monogram, adding a Disney touch for the casual and crazy fan.
One of the campaign photos for Disney x Gucci; Image via Mickey Blog
Gucci didn’t stop with Mickey Mouse, though. The brand has an exclusive collection dedicated to “Gucci x Donald Duck.” According to the creative director, Alessandro Michele, featuring Donald Duck and his nephews on his bags, trunks, and ready-to-wear items demonstrates his “passion for pop culture.”
“Gucci x Donald Duck” tennis shoes as advertised on their website; Image via Gucci
Kate Spade, a more feminine brand, also chose a different character of the “fab five” (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto) to highlight. The fashion house released a collection entitled “Kate Spade x Minnie Mouse.” Cute designs of Minnie in Paris or hanging out with Daisy Duck adorn the brand’s bags big and small.
Minnie Mouse applying lipstick was printed on many of Kate Spade’s classic bags for their collaboration; Image via Inside the Magic
Over the past decade, Disney has only created more collaborations with fashion brands like Givenchy, Supreme, and Comme Des Garcons (to name a few). Mickey Mouse originally had his claim to fame on the silver screen, but his prevalence on and off the runway is growing. The mouse is a symbol of American culture, and fashion houses as well as Disney fans recognize this.
Who's the leader of the club (and the fashion world) that's made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E.