Uniqlo Appoints KAWS as Its First Artist in Residence — First Collection to Launch in FW25

On September 15, global apparel retailer Uniqlo announced that contemporary artist KAWS has been appointed as the brand’s first Artist in Residence. This marks Uniqlo’s first attempt to formalize its long-standing collaborations with artists, further advancing the brand’s philosophy of “Art For All.”

The announcement took place on Monday evening at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, where Uniqlo hosted a glamorous LifeWear event. During the occasion, the brand revealed that its longtime partner KAWS would step into the newly created role of Artist in Residence.

KAWS has long captivated audiences by crossing the boundaries between fashion and art, producing numerous Uniqlo UT collections featuring globally beloved characters such as Peanuts and Sesame Street. In his new role, he will help shape art events at Uniqlo flagship stores worldwide, collaborate with museum partners, participate in the UT Grand Prix, and contribute to the development of LifeWear products. The first collection under this role will debut in the Fall/Winter 2025 season.

Upon his appointment, KAWS commented: “I am thrilled to be taking this next step with my longtime partner UNIQLO to become the brand’s first Artist In Residence. In this role, I hope to tap into the art community and global creatives to curate the next generation of UNIQLO collaborators. I am looking forward to working on exciting new kinds of LifeWear.”

John C. Jay, President of Global Creative at Fast Retailing, added: “In our ever-evolving world, art is now more important than ever as an expression of our humanity. KAWS has been breaking the traditional boundaries of the art world, just as Uniqlo in its efforts to redefine the apparel industry through LifeWear. As our Artist in Residence, KAWS will help Uniqlo to expand the global appreciation and participation of art and creativity for all.”

The partnership between Uniqlo and KAWS began with their first UT collection in 2016. Since then, they have launched highly popular collaborations including KAWS × Peanuts (2017), KAWS × Sesame Street (2018), the special edition KAWS: Summer (2019), and more recent releases such as KAWS TOKYO FIRST (2021) and KAWS + Warhol (2024).

For over a decade, Uniqlo has pursued its “Art For All” initiative, collaborating with leading global institutions such as MoMA, Tate, the Louvre, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. These partnerships reflect the company’s LifeWear philosophy of enriching everyday life through art. The appointment of KAWS signals a further expansion of these efforts, presenting a new phase where art and fashion converge.