admin Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Clare Waight Keller has been laying low on the design front since her exit as Givenchy’s artistic director in 2020. But she’s making her return in collaboration with retail giant Uniqlo, with a new sub-label for the brand titled “Uniqlo C.”
In an interview with Vogue, Waight Keller said the “C” name isn’t merely an initial for herself, but instead reflects the values at the core of her first collection for the label: “The letter C captured a lot of things that I was talking about: people commuting living in the city, the face that there’s a real clarity to the palette and this idea of casual, but also a sort of cheekiness.”
The aesthetics of this first collection are reminiscent of Waight Keller’s work at Givenchy, as well as Chloé before that. You can expect plenty of maxi and oversized styles, pleated fabrics and marriages of typically formal-leaning pieces with more everyday attire.
“It’s this idea of an effortless wardrobe that’s really focused, and captures chic, casual, weekend — all the elements of everyday lifestyle for this customer,” Waight Keller told Vogue, noting how she was largely informed by how the pandemic changed women’s ideas about what it means to get dressed, putting comfort at the forefront.
Uniqlo C is the latest of the Japanese retailers’ initial-forward sub-brands helmed by an iconic designer, joining J+ by Jil Sander, which ran from 2009 until 2009 and was revived again in 2020. Yukihiro Katsuta, the head of research and development for Uniqlo, previously led the charge on J+, and said of Waight Keller: “I’ve studied a lot of designers, and what distinguishes Clare is that she makes great clothing with a female essence. I believe her wealth of experience and her designs that fully appreciate the modern woman will usher in a new standard of LifeWear for women.”
Uniqlo C will be available to shop on uniqlo.com and in 1,500 Uniqlo stores worldwide on Sept. 15. The collection will consist of 30 pieces, including a vegan leather Chelsea boot priced at $59.90 — Uniqlo’s first foray into footwear.
Keep scrolling to view the full lookbook.
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
Uniqlo C Fall 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Uniqlo
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