Winona Revisits the Golden Age of Comics in New Collaboration with DC

Amid newsstands, iconic covers, and pages yellowed by time, there exists a collective imagination that spans generations. It is precisely within this territory of memory, pop culture, and nostalgia that Winona found the inspiration for its new licensed collection created in partnership with DC.

The new collection revives the vintage aesthetic that accompanied different eras of comic books, bringing to apparel the graphic language that defined the golden age of the publisher's publications. Classic artwork, aged textures, and visual references inspired by original print editions transform each piece into something akin to a collector's item discovered decades later in an old specialty store.

More than simply featuring iconic characters, the collection's proposal was to return to the origins of this universe. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Supergirl are presented through a perspective that celebrates the history built over decades of publications, paying tribute to moments that helped establish these characters as enduring symbols of global pop culture.

According to Winona's founder, the collection was born from the desire to recreate the feeling of discovering a rare T-shirt hidden within a forgotten archive.

“We believe that DC is part of many people's emotional memories. More than superheroes, we are talking about characters that have spanned generations and helped shape the imagination of pop culture.”

According to her, the team sought to move away from the more obvious contemporary reinterpretations and instead immersed themselves directly in classic comic books, newsstands, and vintage magazines that defined different eras of the publisher's history.

“At Winona, we have always enjoyed transforming cultural references into pieces that feel as though they carry a story of their own. We wanted to create something that would resonate both with those who grew up reading these stories and with those who discovered this universe more recently.”

This creative decision naturally led to the vintage aesthetic that defines the entire collection. The research process involved an extensive immersion into the publisher's historical archives, including one of the most important publications in comic book history: Action Comics #1, officially released in 1938 and recognized as the first appearance of Superman.

“The essence of the collection was rooted far more in the history of these characters than in modern reinterpretations. Our idea was to imagine what it would be like to discover a forgotten batch of T-shirts inspired by these classic comics, as if the pieces had been produced decades ago and were only now being rediscovered and released.”

Among all the characters featured in the collection, Supergirl holds a particularly symbolic role. The heroine first appeared in 1959 in Action Comics #252 and now returns to the spotlight amid the studio's new cinematic era.

“Supergirl perfectly represents the collection's proposal: bringing back a great classic and allowing it to live a new moment. Rather than reinterpreting the character solely through a contemporary aesthetic, we decided to return to her origins and to the comic books that defined her identity.”

The choice also speaks directly to DC's current moment in cinema. As new films usher in a new era for the studio, Winona chose to look back in order to celebrate the stories that made this universe possible.

“While cinema points toward the future, Winona chose to look to the past. The collection builds a bridge between these two moments and shows that, in order to create new chapters, it is also important to celebrate the legacy that allowed these characters to transcend so many generations.”

This sense of continuity is present in every detail of the collection. The brand's intention is that wearing one of the pieces also means wearing a piece of comic book history.

“We want fans to feel that they are wearing a piece of DC history. Each print was created to evoke the feeling of discovering an old comic book or a collector's item that has been preserved for decades.”

Although it was developed as a limited edition, the collaboration may represent only the beginning of a longer relationship between these two creative universes.

“The DC universe is incredibly rich, with characters, stories, and different eras that continue to inspire new ideas. Our intention is to keep exploring this legacy and celebrating this universe in new ways, always respecting its history while bringing Winona's creative perspective to it.”

Produced in limited quantities, the collection is now available through the brand's official e-commerce platform and emerges as a meeting point between fashion, memory, and visual storytelling, transforming some of the most important pages in comic book history into pieces capable of standing the test of time just as their characters have.

Check out the brand's full interview below:

1. What motivated Winona to create a collection inspired by the DC universe?

We believe that DC holds a special place in the emotional memories of many people. More than superheroes, we are talking about characters that have crossed generations and helped shape the collective imagination of pop culture.

When we began developing this collection, we wanted to avoid the most obvious route and return to the origins. Our greatest inspiration came directly from vintage comic books, old magazines, newsstands, and the classic artwork that defined DC's history.

At Winona, we have always enjoyed transforming cultural references into pieces that feel as though they carry a story of their own. This collection was born from our desire to revive the aesthetic of classic comics, featuring prints with an aged appearance, colors inspired by the printing techniques of the era, and a visual language that resonates both with those who grew up reading these stories and with those who appreciate this universe today.

It is a collection that celebrates nostalgia while remaining contemporary, translating Winona's identity through a vintage perspective on one of the greatest universes in comic book history.

2. How did the idea of embracing a vintage aesthetic for this collaboration come about?

The vintage aesthetic emerged very naturally throughout the creative process. When we began immersing ourselves in the DC universe, we gained access to a vast collection of classic comic books and archival materials that tell the story of these characters from their very beginnings.

One of our greatest inspirations was Action Comics #1, officially published in 1938 and widely recognized as Superman's first comic book appearance. From that point on, we realized that the essence of the collection was rooted far more in the history of these characters than in modern reinterpretations.

Our idea was to imagine what it would be like to discover a forgotten batch of T-shirts inspired by these classic comics, as if the collection had been created decades ago and was only now being rediscovered and released by Winona.

3. Which character in the collection best represents the essence of the partnership between Winona and DC, and why?

Supergirl perfectly represents the essence of this partnership because she embodies exactly what the collection stands for: bringing back a great classic and allowing it to live a new moment.

The character first appeared in comic books in 1959, in Action Comics #252, and more than six decades later, she continues to captivate new generations. This aligns directly with the concept behind the collection. Rather than reinterpreting the character solely through a contemporary lens, we returned to her origins, researching the classic comic books and bringing that vintage visual language into the pieces.

In addition, with the new Supergirl film once again sparking public interest in the character, we felt it was the perfect moment to celebrate her journey.

4. How did DC's new cinematic era influence the launch of this collection?

DC's new cinematic era played an important role in the creation of the collection because it represents a moment of renewal for the brand. When we saw characters such as Superman and Supergirl ushering in this new phase, we felt it was the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to the origins of this universe.

While cinema points toward the future, Winona chose to look to the past. In the end, the collection creates a bridge between these two moments. On one side, DC is beginning a new chapter on the big screen; on the other, we are revisiting the stories that gave birth to it all.

It is a way of showing that, in order to build the future, it is equally important to celebrate the legacy that has allowed these characters to transcend so many generations.

5. What do you hope fans will feel when wearing a piece from this collaboration?

We hope fans feel that they are wearing a piece of DC history. We want each item to serve as a connection to where it all began: the first comic books, the iconic covers, and the characters that gave rise to one of the greatest universes in pop culture.

From the very beginning, our intention was to create pieces that evoke this sense of discovery, much like finding an old comic book or a collector's item that has been carefully preserved for decades. Each print was designed to honor this legacy and revive the aesthetic that shaped generations of readers.

6. The collection is a limited edition. Is there a possibility of future Winona collections with DC?

Yes. Even though this collection is a limited edition, we see this collaboration as the beginning of a relationship with significant potential to evolve.

The DC universe is incredibly rich, with characters, stories, and different eras that continue to inspire new ideas. Our intention is to keep exploring this legacy and celebrating this universe in new ways, always respecting its history while bringing Winona's creative perspective to it.