It’s a familiar tale by now – in times of crisis, people tend to take shelter in understated, well-designed pieces that weather through the years.
Going by that train of thought, it is not surprising that the recently revived +J line – a collaboration between German designer Jil Sander and Uniqlo – has received a more rabid response than its first outing back in 2009 when it launched in Singapore this morning (Nov 20) at 11am. FYI: In China, the +J line reportedly sold out on online shopping portal Taobao on Nov 3.
The +J collection hits stores on Nov 20.
The Straits Times reported that the outing drew long queues at Uniqlo’s flagship store in Orchard Central. About 160 people were seen queueing up at around 10.30am before the store opened.
The popular range went on hiatus in 2011, but it’s making a timely return next month with the +J Fall/Winter 2020 collection ($29.90-$329.90). Besides being stocked at Uniqlo’s Orchard Central flagship, the pieces are available online as well.
Lest you think it’s all strict scriptures on minimalism, the +J outing also comprises subtly playful touches.
There’s a heavy focus on streamlined tailoring and tactility (think herringbone tweed) in the collection – silhouettes are gently roomy without being overtly so – a signature the designer has long perfected. But lest you think it’s all strict scriptures on minimalism, there are subtly playful touches as well, as seen on a men’s cardigan featuring an abstract cloud-like motif.
According to Ms. Sander, clothes “should serve the wearer and give her or him the energy and self-assurance which is so much needed in our global reality.”
“I set out to define the global modern uniform with this in mind: Clothes should be long-lasting and enduring,” says Ms. Sander. “They should serve the wearer and give her or him the energy and self-assurance which is so much needed in our global reality.”
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In light of ongoing political and environmental crisises, thoughtful designs are definitely more than welcomed, as we pointed in a piece on minimalism earlier this year.
Below, a preview of the men’s and women’s lookbooks.
