UNIQLO collaborates with Italian luxury fashion brand Marni

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO of Japan has collaborated with Italian luxury fashion brand Marni. This long-awaited collaboration with Marni has produced a collection that is bold and brimming with playfulness, in a distinctively Marni style. 

UNIQLO LifeWear typified by smart designs and technical expertise and the Marni aesthetic characterized by unique shapes and colourful prints have been brought together in a wardrobe that is fresh and new, and can be enjoyed by everyone as everyday wear. 

The Collection is launching in-store and at uniqlo.com from MAY 19th 2022.

Nike is world's most valuable apparel brand, says Brand Finance report.

According to Brand Finance Apparel 50 report on the world's most valuable and strongest apparel brands released this week, Nike continues to dominate as the world’s most valuable apparel brand, with a brand value of US$32.4billion, up 16% since last year due to its strong sales growth in key markets around the world, from China to the Middle Eat, Europe and Africa.

"Nike’s bold marketing makes it stand out in a busy marketplace of sportswear apparel brands. In a time when customers look for experiences and emotional connection, Nike’s offering comes with unambiguous messages and values that people can rally behind." Richard Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance.

Nike Inc. is looking into what went wrong after college basketball’s biggest star sprained his knee when his shoe fell apart, one of the most high-profile apparel failures in basketball history.

Zara and Adidas move up the ranks as H&M’s brand value decrease pushes it down to 4th place.

While Uniqlo is the fastest-growing apparel brand in the top 10, up a whopping 48% year on year
Rolex is the strongest brand in the sector, posting an elite AAA+ brand strength rating.

Luxury brands account for 7 out of the top 10 strongest apparel brands, showing importance of brand strength in the segment. Among the top performers in the Apparel 50 report are labels Cartier, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes and Gucci.

UNIQLO X JW ANDERSON - SS2018 collection inspired by the English Beach culture

The English Channel - Photo © Lucia Carpio

The English summer may be unpredictable but to many of us in the UK it is a glorious time of the year when we will find any excuse to head out to the beach.   And one of our favourite beaches very accessible from London is in the southern coast on the English Channel. 

Brighton Beach is inspirational for many creative souls including London-based fashion brand JW ANDERSON which is launching a new Spring Summer 2018 men and women’s collection at UNIQLO, the Japanese global apparel retailer that has a strong following in the UK market and around the world.

Uniqlo announced that the new UNIQLO X JW ANDERSON collection will launch at UNIQLO stores* and UNIQLO.com in 19 countries and regions from Friday, April 20**.

Uniqlo photos.

The line highlights designer JW Anderson’s unique take on the Brighton culture. Complementing the unisex designs that are basic to the range are items enabling casual mixing and layering for an array of styling alternatives. The collection highlights the enjoyment of LifeWear fashions for everyone, regardless of age or gender, according to Uniqlo.

Commenting on the launch of the 2018 Spring/Summer line, Jonathan Anderson, founder of JW ANDERSON, said  celebrates the 1950s heydays of Brighton.

“In the 2nd collection of the collaboration, I’m looking for this idea of ‘British Summer,’ the idea of being on the Brighton beach. Something which is very lightweight, very airy, with a lot of linen, and cotton that has a 1950’s sub-cultural movement. With a little bit of ease and something which is quintessential.” He added, “As a UNIQLO customer, I know exactly the quality that the brand gives to its products. I am very proud of the level of execution and the attention to details that we delivered on this new Spring/Summer collection.”

Commented Yuki Katsuta, Group Senior Vice President of Fast Retailing and Head of UNIQLO Global Research and Design, “As befitting its dedication to ‘Simple made better’, UNIQLO’s mission with LifeWear is to create apparel that embodies simplicity, quality and longevity and is always stylish.

Uniqlo is known for its wide range of functional designs and designer collaborations, fusing quality fabrics with fabulous fit.  This week, Japan’s Fast Retailing Co, owner of clothing chain Uniqlo, posted a 35 percent rise in second-quarter operating profit and upgraded its full year forecast by 13 percent as its international sales continue to drive growth.

*Availability for collection items may vary. **Launch dates will differ in some markets.

Liberty and UNIQLO collaborate in new fashion line

Come March 18^th, Japanese retailer UNIQLO will unveil a new unique line that illustrates their latest collaboration with Liberty London, marrying over a hundred years of history with modern LifeWear philosophy - Simple made better.   UNIQLO call this new collection a brand new fashion hybrid perfect for the present.  The range includes allover-printed linen blouses,  T-shirts and tops, floral-fabric lined light down jackets, cropped legging trousers, culottes and shorts, for ladies, men and children.

The colourful photographs for the promotional campaign of this new range have been executed by the influential image-maker, Nick Knight, whom UNIQLO has referred to as “a pivotal figure in fashion photography for several decades”.

This new collaboration demonstrates that the quintessentially British brand, Liberty London is as relevant today as it has been through successive art movements in its 140-year history.

A selection of archive Liberty prints on show at the Fashion & Textiles Museum, London
during the Liberty in Fashion exhibition 2015.  Prints from the iconic London store archives, in particular its signature heritage florals, have fed inspiration to designers of all brands.Photo: Lucia Carpio

Liberty has been playing a key role in the world of fashion and textiles from Orientalism and Aesthetic dress in the 19th century, through the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements in early 20th century, and the revival of these styles since the 1950s. 

Liberty print fabrics on sale at the Fashion & Textile Museum shop.
Photo: Lucia Carpio

Prints from the iconic London store archives, in particular its signature heritage florals, have fed inspiration to designers of various brands and genres.

The Liberty Design Studio was established in the 1950s to produce and commission the best in patterned and woven textiles. 

During the years of the Swinging 60s, Liberty was working with designers (including Mary Quant, Foal and Tuffin and into the 1970s, Liberty prints were once again rediscovered by a new generation of designers, not just in London but also in Paris, including Yves St Laurent.

Liberty London collaboration with Nike.
Photo: Lucia Carpio

As Liberty’s collaborative relationships with designers, artists and stylists expanded from the 1990s, its distinctive prints and fabrics included a roll-call of British and international names from Cacharel, Vivienne Westwood and also the New York-based Anna Sui and Japanese designer Junya Watanabe, along with Kenzo and British brands Barbour, Harris Tweed, Dr.  Marten and sports brand Nike as shown above.