Japanese global retailer Uniqlo has announced their next high-profile collaboration with Jonathan Anderson of the J.W. Anderson label. The Northern Irish designer will create men’s and women’s style for the forthcoming Fall 2017 LifeWear line, which will be available online and at Uniqlo stores.
Neither Uniqlo nor Anderson are strangers to collaboration. Uniqlo previously teamed up with former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris Carine Roitfeld for three LifeWear collections. The J.W. Anderson Workshop in London has partnered with high-level designers and celebrities alike, such as A$AP Rocky, editor Luis Venegas and fashion photographer Ian David Baker. Anderson even partnered with ceramic artist Joanna Wason for a collaborative fashion and pottery exhibition. In an official statement, Anderson spoke of the forthcoming Uniqlo collaboration as a triumph of high-quality fashion meeting accessibility:
Collaborations are incredibly important in design. When I think of Uniqlo, I think of things that are perfectly made, that people have spent a lot of time considering; it’s a difficult job, and I think Uniqlo do it very well. Working with Uniqlo is probably the most incredible template of democracy in fashion, and it’s nice that my design can be accessible to anyone, on all different levels.
So, what can we expect from this incredible template of democracy? Yuki Katsuta, Uniqlo’s Senior Vice President of Fast Retailing and Head of Research and Design, gave away a few hints. “Much of the clothing we wear today has a long history, and many styles originated from uniforms or work wear. The British Isles constitute a treasure house of such apparel, with duffle coats and fisherman’s sweaters being just two example,” said Katsuta. “In partnering with J.W. Anderson, one of Britain’s most innovative and creative brands, we will tap into traditions while pursuing progress in designs and fabrics, to craft styles that are enduringly appealing.” Perhaps this means a fresh Uniqlo take on J.W. Anderson’s elongated polo neck jumper. We can get down with that.