On September 4th, Uniqlo announced the appointment of British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller as its new Creative Director. In addition to her current role, Waight Keller will also oversee Uniqlo’s mainline collections, including menswear, starting from the Autumn/Winter 2024 season.
Waight Keller joined Uniqlo in September 2023 as the designer for the women’s project “UNIQLO: C.” Before that, she served as Creative Director at Givenchy under LVMH and at Chloé under Richemont, where she handled a broad range of collections from prêt-à-porter to haute couture. Waight Keller’s accolades include winning “Womenswear Designer of the Year” at the 2018 British Fashion Awards and being named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2019.
Waight Keller commented on her new role: “Working with UNIQLO over these past two years, I have been hugely impressed by their innovation and ability to create exceptional products. Working with the team, I became deeply immersed in the brand and the future they are creating. It is very exciting and an honor for me to be involved in the evolution of LifeWear.”
Tadashi Yanai, Fast Retailing Chairman, President and CEO, said: “We are proud to welcome Ms. Clare Waight Keller as the Creative Director of UNIQLO. Along with her exceptional originality and wide-ranging experience, I have been impressed by her excellent sense of balance, which never forgets the perspective of the consumer. I believe that with her, we will be able to evolve LifeWear, the ultimate everyday wear, into something even richer and create clothes that will make our customers even happier.”
Yukihiro Katsuta, Head of R&D at Uniqlo, also shared his expectations, “Clare Waight Keller’s work with UNIQLO : C has convinced me that she is one of the few creators in the world able to achieve a high level of balance between creation and merchandising. I believe that the experience, knowledge, and skills that she has amassed, based on a keen aesthetic sense and intellect, will greatly expand the world of UNIQLO LifeWear.”
Uniqlo has previously released exclusive collections in collaboration with renowned global luxury brands such as J.W. Anderson, Jil Sander, and Marni. Additionally, Christophe Lemaire, former Artistic Director at Hermès, has been the Creative Director of “Uniqlo U” since the Autumn/Winter 2015 season.
While Uniqlo’s vision of “LifeWear” focuses on basic items, it is anticipated that Waight Keller’s involvement will introduce more luxurious elements to the brand’s offerings. This autumn, the “UNIQLO: C” collection will continue with relaxed reinterpretations of classic British wardrobe staples.