The hottest ticket in the art and fashion world right now is probably the unlikeliest: an all-women’s wrestling match.   

But it’s not just any old wrestling match. Because Sukeban, an independent Japanese women’s pro-wrestling league, is nothing like the wrestling of yonder days. Founded in 2022 by fashion designer Olympia Le-Tan and her brother-in-law Alex Detrick, the league’s name is an ode to the Japanese girl gangs of the 1960s and ’70s, young women who were known for shoplifting and refusing to conform to patriarchal society. These rebellious young women often dyed their hair, subverted their “schoolgirl” stereotypes by wearing long versions of school-uniform skirts to protest objectification, and took fashion inspiration from punk and anarchist influences. In a nod to this history, the sport features fighters in bespoke costumes designed by Le-Tan, and compete adorned in intricate and dramatic  makeup looks from renowned beauty brands like Pat McGrath. At the league’s first-ever London, U.K., fight in October 2024, the organizers sold merch from London streetwear label Aries. 

And it’s this intersection of the sport with art, design and fashion that is, in large part, playing into its success: by expanding into business in a unique way, leveraging high-end art-world and fashion events, and collaborating with lauded fashion brands. In addition to their London match, which took place during the annual Frieze London art fair, other matches—or shows—have taken place in New York, Los Angeles and even at Miami’s infamous Art Basel festival; each featured different fashion and beauty partners, from makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench to fashion brand Soft Skin Latex. These collaborations with cool-kid brands and streetwear companies are creating a symbiotic relationship between Sukeban and the commercial world. The league’s events are increasingly becoming the most sought-after invitations during fashion weeks, while the very brands adjacent to their partners clamour to be associated with them. Attendees are in-the-know too: instead of the testosterone-fest that’s typical of pro-wrestling, Sukeban fans are fashion editors, influencers and designers who all scramble to watch the women take charge and serve looks.

And it makes sense that fashion and beauty houses would want to get on board. Sukeban taps into a long-standing obsession the fashion world has with Japan and its culture and aesthetic. In 2022 and 2023, Loewe collaborated with Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli for collections inspired by films including Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away. And in 2024, brands like Jimmy Choo and Longchamp leaned on anime shows Sailor Moon and Pokémon, respectively, to sell shoes. Sukeban, a reflection of Japanese youth subculture and aesthetics, is a natural fit. 

With their multicoloured hair, latex costumes and fan base of insiders, Sukeban fighters are quickly becoming the fashion world’s next big thing. Just watch out for their knockout moves.

The league’s wrestlers are similarly awe-inspiring; they come in all body types and ages, and their personalities and character lores are all a big part of the spectacle, each belonging to one of four teams. They make perfect brand ambassadors, with fans associating closely with their favourite wrestler or team like they would with any other sport—except this league is conversant in high fashion.