fashionologie

A First Look at the Undercover Uniqlo Collection

Christina Perez — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:52:06 PST

>> Campaign images of Jun Takahashi's Undercover Uniqlo collection have been released. Via the capsule's newly live website, the four campaign images depict an attractive family of six dressed head to toe in comfy-chic weekend classics: there are stripey-sleeve tops, khaki jackets, cardigan sweaters, and printed pants - in short, just the kind of clothing one would wear to engage in wholesome family fun. "Clothing for the families of today," the retailer explains. "It is the unity of Uniqlo's high-quality basic clothing, and the Undercover line of street-influences, high-end fashion. It represents the modern family style, and seeks to inspire the world from Tokyo." The 105-piece collection - made up of 34 items for women, 43 items for men, and 32 items for children and babies - hits stores March 16 and is priced from around $11 to $105. [Shophound, Racked]

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A Look at Jil Sander's Last +J Collection for Uniqlo

fashionologie — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:21:15 PDT

>> Jil Sander is moving on from her +J partnership with Uniqlo, but not before one more collection hits limited Uniqlo stores in early September. A first look at the Fall 2011 offering, photographed by David Sims on Arizona Muse.

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Undercover's Jun Takahashi Set To Replace Jil Sander at Uniqlo

fashionologie — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:31:40 PDT

>> With Jil Sander's last +J collection for Uniqlo hitting stores this Fall, the retailer has announced a new designer partnership with Undercover's Jun Takahashi. Both Uniqlo and Takahashi have declined to comment on the details or scope of the collaboration, which was inked June 1, but the first collection will hit stores for Spring 2012. According to a release, the details of the collaboration will be announced "as they are determined." [WWD, Honeyee]

Jil Sander, Uniqlo To Part Ways

fashionologie — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:47:14 PDT

>> After a three-year run with Uniqlo, Jil Sander's Fall 2011 +J collection will be her last, the company announced today in a release: "With the recent completion of the design of the . . . Fall and Winter collection, Ms. Sander and [Uniqlo] agreed that they had fully explored the possibilities of their creative collaboration and accomplished what they had set out to do. Consequently, the two parties have decided to wrap up their design consulting agreement with this collection."

Uniqlo has never disclosed revenue for the +J line, and although Sander is notoriously difficult to work with, her relations with the company seemed to be going well as recently as February. According to an interview dated Feb. 1 with Tadashi Yanai, CEO and founder of Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing, Yanai said: “Jil’s attitude towards clothing creation is truly incredible. She is particularly masterful when it comes to garment shape and style. She will recreate and refresh her designs until she is completely satisfied - even when it comes to the minutest detail. That is why customers feel so satisfied with the fit of collection clothes the instant they try them on. Uniqlo must embrace this fundamental attitude, as well as the passion and attention to detail that Jil brings to creating clothes.”

A Fast Retailing spokesman confirmed today that the company's team of 100 designers “learned a lot” while working with Sander, including her famed attention to detail in selection of raw materials.

Vena Cava Get Together With Uniqlo For Collaboration

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:49:37 PST

>> Vena Cava's Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock - whose past collaborators include Via Spiga, Gap, and Bloomingdale's - have a new partner. “We’re about to do [a collaboration] with Uniqlo,” Buhai announced at a Fashion Group International-hosted panel discussion on entrepreneurship yesterday. “Lisa and I were at a point where we felt like we were getting stagnant,” Buhai elaborated. “Fashion is cyclical, but when you add in different projects, you feel like you’re learning again.”

“It’s an opportunity for us to articulate our brand in a way that’s more mass,” Mayock added. “We just want to make sure whatever we do has our stamp on it,” Buhai concluded, giving no further detail.

A Look at Jil Sander's Spring 2011 +J Collection for Uniqlo

fashionologie — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 08:28:59 PST

>> Jil Sander's Spring 2011 +J Collection for Uniqlo hits stores in less than two weeks - on Jan. 26 - and we've got a preview of what to expect. The mantra for the collection is "basics that aren't monotonous," and the color scheme for the season is inspired by "desert breeze" and "nomads." Translation: jackets in sands, creams, and whites, cool blues, and pops of red on a dress or top here and there. The collection - more of which can be seen here, with price information - runs $19.90 for a tank to $229.90 for outerwear.

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A Look at Jil Sander's Third +J Collection for Uniqlo, Out October 7

fashionologie — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:35:52 PDT

>> Jil Sander's third and most comprehensive +J collection for Uniqlo - 169 pieces - hits stores on Oct. 7, one year to the day after the premiere collection's launch.

Sander, who has signed on to do the collection through 2013, introduced her Fall 2010 offering to Hilary Alexander. The palette runs black, navy, white, silver-grey, beige, and all shades of blue - "Storm to sky," Sander says. There's a silvery down jacket with little leggings ("almost couture," Sander notes); a midnight felt coat, with detachable gilet and hood ("the most expensive felt, and real buttons, NOT plastic, which we hate"); a black wool and cashmere jacket ("very Jil Sander"); duffle coats in pewter wool, tight-fitted, and high-waisted ("they could be £2,000 at designer level"). The collection ranges from $15.90 for cut-and-sewn to $229.90 for outerwear.

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fashionologie — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:52:36 PDT

>> Jil Sander's Contract with Uniqlo Runs Three More Years -It was reported in April that Jil Sander, whose first collection dropped for Uniqlo last October, would be designing for the chain indefinitely. Now, it comes out that Sander's contractual obligations are shorter than forever - in April, she signed up for three more years with Uniqlo, bringing her to age 70. Sander currently takes trips to Tokyo almost every month, but hopes that she can develop her former showroom and in-town office in Hamburg to cut down on travel. Her upcoming Fall collection for the brand will go on sale in September and includes "a shapely ginger coat with pockets curving over the hips; or a stylish cornflower blue parka teamed with a blue coat - both set to retail at under €120, or $150," Suzy Menkes reports. [IHT]

Uniqlo Partners With Velvet on Collection of West Coast Basics and Confirms Second New York Store

coutorture — Mon, 24 May 2010 07:53:54 PDT

On June 17, Uniqlo will unveil its latest collaboration, Uniqlo + Velvet. The lineup will offer jersey and cashmere styles in four separate mini collections to be released throughout the year. Jenny Graham and Toni Spencer, the co-creative directors at Velvet, designed West Coast-inspired basics like cropped harem pants, cut-out tee shirt dresses, and racer-back tank dresses for the Japanese retailer and named each collection after a California hotspot (Hollywood Roosevelt, Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach).

In September, a cashmere collection will follow the summer offering-with trapeze cardigans, off-the-shoulder tunics, and asymmetric long-sleeved tops selling for $99.90 and $129.90.

In other Uniqlo news, the retailer confirmed that it has signed a $300 million, fifteen-year lease to build a second American store (after SoHo) at 666 Fifth Avenue. It is the largest retail lease ever signed in New York.

fashionologie — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:39:39 PDT

>> Jil Sander Has Book in the Works -Last month, Uniqlo announced that Jil Sander would be designing for the company indefinitely, and the designer is currently working on her third +J collection for the brand, but she's also got another, independent project in the works. She wants to produce a book: “[It’s] going to be some kind of resume of my work in the past and the ideals that stand behind it.” [WWD]