This morning, mass market apparel retailer UNIQLO announced the launch of UNIQLO : C, a women’s collection designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, previously of Givenchy and Chloé, to launch on September 15th. The 35-item collection infuses UNIQLO’s functional ethos with Waight Keller’s immense design experience and technical precision. Think: perfectly cut cable-knit sweaters, meticulously pleated skirts, a thoughtfully designed trench coat, andeven wool baseball caps. UNIQLO has a history of attracting high-profile industry talent, snagging Jonathan Anderson and Jil Sander for collaborations, and this latest crossover will bring yet another reimagination of UNIQLO LifeWear.
Photos: Courtesy of UNIQLO
The name, UNIQLO : C, alludes not only to the designer’s first name, but the aesthetic tentpoles of the collection: Conversation, City, Clarity, Connection, and Creativity. “I have always admired the Japanese aesthetic of subtlety, simplicity, and detailed perfection, so to be able to work with the UNIQLO team to craft a new sensibility for my womenswear collection on such a global scale is a truly exciting opportunity,” Waight Keller said in a statement released from the brand. The announcement comes in a succession of higher profile talent flocking to brands that boast a lower price point; just yesterday Banana Republic announced a collaboration with Peter Do. After departing Givenchy in 2020, Waight Keller’s hiatus has had fans speculating about her next step. It seems fashion-heads are going to have greater access to their idols’ work—but they better shop fast. This collection’s destined to sell out immediately.
Photos: Courtesy of UNIQLO
