When it comes to fashion, my style has always been simple and minimalist. I stick to timeless pieces that will never go out of style, and I make sure these pieces are of good quality that will last for years. I’m also a firm believer that you don’t need to break your wallet to get quality pieces with a good design—you just need to know where to look, and for me?
There’s only one place I can think of that embodies my simple sense of style, with good and quality pieces—and that’s Uniqlo.Ever since Uniqlo arrived in the country, it’s the only shop I’ve been going to and the one brand that has taken over my closet—which is why when I received an invite to attend the launch of their LifeWear 2017 Spring/Summer Collection, I was more than ecstatic to attend.
What is LifeWear? That was one of the first questions I asked when I arrived at the event in Whitespace Manila two weeks ago. LifeWear is who you are and what you believe in; it’s what you wear every day. And that’s what inspires Uniqlo—they make apparel centered on Japanese values of simplicity, quality, and longevity. These are clothing that are constantly innovated and designed with modern elegance, with a purpose of making your life better.
Uniqlo’s 2017 Spring/Summer collection is composed of timeless LifeWear pieces that will cover every aspect of life, where every piece becomes the building block for any style.
These are categorized into the following: Denim, Work Smart, Uniqlo Sport, Airism, UT, Magic for All, Uniqlo Kids and Uniqlo Baby, Uniqlo U, and a special collaboration with French style icon and designer, Ines de la Fressange.
Denim
Uniqlo Denim combines tradition and innovation for a new generation of stylish and comfortable everyday jeans. Jeans are definitely synonymous with LifeWear and are an integral part of the lifestyles of people of all ages, gender, nations, and backgrounds. The brand offers a wide variety of denim designs made with high quality materials, and it continues to pioneer the evolution of denim with the newly established Denim Innovation Center.
Work Smart
Back when I still worked in corporate, this was the category I used to look at the most because I always needed comfortable, accessible and polished pieces that were versatile and that I could easily mix and match especially when I was in a hurry (or running late). The beauty of Uniqlo’s designs is that though they’re low-maintenance, you still look professional and stylish. The fabrics are wrinkle-resistant and machine-washable, so it really lets you enjoy style with less worry. You can wear them to work, or even dress it up for a night out!
Uniqlo Sport
Uniqlo Sport incorporates sportswear features into everyday apparel to make clothing functional and fashionable. This season, they expanded their lineup to encompass a wider range of sports to help enhance athletic performance. I’m definitely interested to get myself a few pieces from this category—pieces I can wear to both Ultimate and yoga.
AIRism
This is one of the most intriguing categories because AIRism is a line of innovative and functional innerwear that solves a variety of discomfort by controlling sweat. More than just cooling, its quick-drying technology keeps skin smooth and dry even when perspiring. Light, thin and smooth, AIRism is designed to feel as if nothing is there! This is perfect to have, especially now that the summer is nearing.
UT
More than just expression, UT (or Uniqlo T-shirts) is a celebration of culture designed from carefully selected pop art from around the world. This year, UT celebrates its 10th season and for 2017 Spring/Summer, they return to their roots by featuring graphics from leading talents like abstract expressionist, FUTURA.
Magic for All
This is Uniqlo’s second year of collaborating with Disney, and Magic for All, a part of the UT collection, is a global partnership that combines the fantasy, magic, and adventure of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar with LifeWear. The collection features MICKEY STANDS, with designs showing Mickey Mouse striking iconic poses, and the MICKEY BLUE (Indigo collection), inspired by West Coast culture and Japanese Indigo dyeing. The lineup will also include content from the past 40 years of Star Wars (heads up Star Wars fans!) and expand with new offerings, including characters from the new Cars 3 movie and Spider-Man motifs. My little cousin, Loki, will surely enjoy the Cars 3 shirts!
Uniqlo Kids and Uniqlo Baby
Uniqlo Kids and Uniqlo Baby was born out of the need to create comfortable and durable clothing that will help kids interact with and learn about their surroundings. This season, the items are made for easier removal and include reassuring safety features.
Uniqlo U
At Uniqlo’s Paris Research and Development Center, their global design team (led by Christophe Lemaire) is reinventing basics to anything but basic! The selection features clothing that transcends trends and becomes an ideal expression of who we are—every form made for function, every element endlessly considered, every design thoughtfully deconstructed, tested and distilled to its most essential and sophisticated.
Ines de la Fressange
Probably my favorite part of the 2017 Spring/Summer collection, this is the seventh collaboration of Uniqlo with French fashion icon, Ines de La Fressange, which takes inspiration from the French port city of Marseilles. The pieces are nostalgic of sunshine and sea breezes, and the blues give off such a nautical feel.
It’s definitely an exciting collection to watch out for, and if you want to get updates, visit Uniqlo Philippines’ website here or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.