Um, because we know we did. It’s already pretty hard to resist each season’s Uniqlo U collection, since we know that the design team is led by Artistic Director Christophe Lemaire, who always has his keen eye on thoughtful details on basics, and since it’s Uniqlo, the prices are wonderfully affordable too. So you know, we expect the same — great design, innovative fabrics and stitching methods, the whole “reinventing wardrobe basics” kinda thing, and the third collection, now in its Fall/Winter arc, certainly delivers on those fronts. What we did not quite expect though was the upheaval of knits.
Yes, in part, that means that Uniqlo’s giving us so strong a case for knitwear, that we’re currently devising ways we can style them into our eternally summer wardrobes, certainly a new way to think about the fabric eh. The second consideration comes about by way of how unique the knits here are.
We’re presented with a new fabric, called 3D U-Knit, that’s a “three-dimensional knitting technique that employs WHOLEGARMENT technology”, or in human terms, a technology that uses special machines to construct the entire garment as one piece, sans seams. Developed at the Innovation Factory, this comes due to a joint venture with the Japanese brand’s parent company, Fast Retailing, and Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd., a leading Japanese manufacturer of knitting machines. We then get quality knitwear that’s comfortable, with the right fit — for both men and women.
For this season’s Uniqlo U collection, there are 3 dresses, a sweater and a skirt created with this technique — what caught our eye was a stunning red ribbed dress, that seemed to hug the model’s body in all the right places while still with that flow and movement in the pleats and flared cut. All the pieces also feature a modest range of colours, though certainly versatile ones such as black, navy, grey, cream, and for colour, an olive green and bright pop of red.
As is the case with most Fall/Winter drops, we’re also looking for good cold wear. Here, we get a roomy coat that you’ll want to pad up with, as well as a BLOCKTECH Trench Coat, which combines a matte cotton surface with BLOCKTECH technology that allows for windproof, waterproof and yet breathable wear. Sure, these sound like pretty standard properties on a utility jacket, but you have to consider that it’s a stylish trench coat now, with a functional hoodie to boot.
Even the accessories have that chic-utilitarian vibe, from the sleek pouch to the backpack, and even heels that come with the recognisable details of a monochrome plastic zipper that blends in with the fabric.
For the guys, there’s lots to love too, including some nice wide fit pants and sweaters — what stood out though were the jackets, the kind we’d totally steal from the boyfriend’s wardrobes. The oversized look’s in, right?
These in particular had us really envious. The parka/coat makes a great purchase for adventure seekers, while the down jacket — in women’s sizes too — uses a double-weave polyester fabric with Toray, and uses lesser stitches so it’s more able to withstand strong winds. We’re told that it’s made in a streamlined fit so you can have this on as innerwear, while the women’s style can serve as vests by simply unzipping the sleeves.
The only thing you need to do then, is to mark your calendar, yes, along with the J.W. Anderson launch too. There’ll be two drops for this one — the first, on 6 October and featuring most of the collection, and the second, on 10 November, with more heavy-duty jackets or knitwear.
Uniqlo U Fall/Winter collection, available exclusively at the UNIQLO Global Flagship Store at Orchard Central and online at uniqlo.com/sg, from $7.90 for a pair of HEATTECH Socks to $199.90 for a Men’s BLOCKTECH Mods Coat.
You must be logged in to post a comment.