Dressing for the future
Japanese brand Uniqlo has launched its third Uniqlo U collection created by the design team at the Uniqlo Paris R&D Centre under the supervision of artistic director Christophe Lemaire.
The new range stems from a drive to make clothing an ideal expression of its wearer, taking its LifeWear line towards the future through design, pattern, fabric development, and stitching innovations as part of a commitment to reinventing wardrobe basics.
The line comprises 46 women's and 27 men's items in sizes S through XXL sizes, as well as 11 accessories. XL through XXL pieces will be available only online.
The new collection features items created with 3D U-Knit, a three-dimensional knitting technique that employs wholegarment technology to enhance fit and comfort. 3D U-Knit is developed at Innovation Factory, a joint venture that Uniqlo’s parent company, Fast Retailing, established in 2016 with Shima Seiki Mfg, a leading Japanese manufacturer of knitting machines. Wholegarment uses special machines to produce knitwear three-dimensionally in one entire piece, eliminating seams. Another advantage of this technology is that it is flexible, empowering designers to perfectly materialise their visions.
For this season, three dresses, one women's sweater, and one skirt have been created with this technique. A highlight of that range is a 3D Merino Ribbed Mock Neck Dress. The ribbing of this A-line piece accentuates natural femininity by following body contours. The skirt offers delightfully pleated drapes for a sophisticated and elegant look.
Noteworthy additions to the Uniqlo U line-up this season are a women’s Blocktech trench coat, men's coat, and a men's mods coat. This stylish town wear combines a matte cotton surface with advanced Blocktech technology that has become so popular with Uniqlo sportswear for outstanding wind proofing, waterproofing, and breathability.
Also debuting this season are men's and women's seamless down track jackets that incorporate new technology developed with Toray. The outer fabric employs double-weave polyester, reducing the number of stitches to increase heat retention. The lightness and streamlined fit of this outerwear enables it to double as innerwear. Women’s items can also serve as vests by unzipping the sleeves.
The collection is now available at Uniqlo branches at CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, the EmQuartier and online at www.Uniqlo.com/th.
