In the brief span it took to compose last week’s Character Select feature on the Very Cool x Minecraft collaboration, the collection nearly vanished from the shelves. Currently, fewer than ten pieces remain available on the website, with even fewer sizes, if any. As I eagerly await the return of my cherished Axolotl Ushanka, I had the opportunity to converse with Scott Guthrie, the founder and creative director of Cool Shirtz, to delve into the creative journey that brought this collection to life, particularly the decision to collaborate with Minecraft.
Creative Inspiration Behind the Collaboration
When I inquired about the motivation behind the Minecraft collection, Guthrie expressed his deep admiration for the game. “I have such an incredibly deep appreciation for this game, so it felt very natural! It was exciting to put my knowledge to use in building something of a love letter to a property that has brought me a lot of joy over the years,” he shared.
Among the standout pieces in the collection, the Axolotl Ushanka captured my attention immediately, and it seems the designers share that sentiment. “I can’t really go past the Enderman hoodie,” Guthrie remarked. “Being the idea that spawned the rest of the collection, it holds a special place in my heart. What the team was able to achieve in crafting a statement long-sleeve piece that is also fully wearable as a regular hoodie is absolutely amazing. I’m incredibly proud of it, and them.” He also highlighted the Monsters Nearby knit, a nod to the game’s iconic phrase, “You May Not Rest Now, There are Monsters Nearby,” which he found both unsettling and captivating. “It was important to me that it made it into the collection, and I’m glad the way we did so has resonated so well with the Minecraft fanbase.” And let’s not forget the jewelry; Guthrie expressed his affection for the Skeleton pendant, calling it “everything to me.”
Future Collaborations on the Horizon
Given the overwhelming success of this collaboration, it is hard to imagine that Cool Shirtz will stop here. When asked about potential future projects, Guthrie noted the enthusiastic demand from various fanbases on social media. “We’ve seen a lot of demands on socials from different fanbases asking us to tackle their game next, which is incredibly flattering. I won’t give anything away, but whenever we do take on a collab next, we’re going to stick to something that we can channel our genuine love into, which is I think the key ingredient that made this one work,” he stated.
Creating a successful collaboration goes beyond simply obtaining licensing rights. It requires a thoughtful integration of the brand’s style with the essence of the property. Guthrie explained, “This is one of the reasons we felt this collaboration was so natural. Minecraft’s colourful style is very adjacent to what we do for our main line products, so it was a super easy pivot for us to work it into our clothing. Generally, our attitude is that as long as everything’s designed by us, the distinct style will evolve and unify naturally. We just make what we think is cool.”
With a restock scheduled for early 2026, along with additional items on the way, it appears that Very Cool’s journey with Minecraft is far from over. “You’d think that with a near 70-piece collection we’d have run out of ideas… but there are still parts of this world we haven’t explored,” Guthrie concluded. “Working with the Mojang team was incredibly creatively encouraging and fulfilling, so I definitely wouldn’t rule anything out for the future. For now, however, we’re excited to work on some of our own collections for at least a little bit.”
