The Japanese label’s latest collaborator is probably its most playful to date: the Italian luxury house Marni, which has long been beloved for its offbeat, whimsical approach to fashion.
Set to launch in Singapore in late June (an official date has yet to be confirmed at press time), the Marni and Uniqlo collection features a series of summery, everyday-ready pieces (think parkas, balloon skirts, chore jackets, Cuban collar shirts, from $14.90 to $199.90) in relaxed silhouettes and of course, Marni’s signature peppy colours and prints.
Here, Marni’s creative director Francesco Risso walks us through how this collaboration came to be.
Marni’s propensity for cheery colours and prints are seamlessly melded with Uniqlo’s philosophy of well-made everyday pieces.
What was your first reaction when you heard about the collaboration?
“I’ve been hugely excited about it since the very start. I really think this collaboration with Uniqlo comes at the best possible moment, because I see it as an additional step in the trajectory we’ve taken over the past two years. Little by little, we have readdressed all our processes to take the brand closer to people, to push it beyond the constricting templates of fashion and present Marni authentically, engaging with and through the people in dialogue with the brand.”
Idyllic summer dressing.
What inspired the theme of the collection?
“Creatively, we’ve taken a very precise direction throughout the process, with the ambition to shape a wardrobe to be treasured and shared. We explored the notion of LifeWear (Uniqlo’s central philosophy of well-made and designed everyday clothing) through our very own experience and perspective and imagined a wardrobe that a whole family (or, better to say, a chosen family) could share and exchange, living their lives in it. We have tried to translate that sense of ease and familiarity also through the photographs, lensed by (photographer) Jamie Hawkesworth, that present the collection.”
A tinge of nostalgia through Marni’s signature checked print.
How did you decide the direction for this collection?
“The collection will be released in May, so we looked at colours that feel like summer, combining bold shades of red and cobalt with warm, earthy tones of khaki, ecru and olive green. Prints punctuate the range, connecting the collection chromatically in a mix of textures and monochromes.”
Easy shapes and silhouettes are intrinsic to the Marni DNA and it applies here too.
What about the collection most resembles your own wardrobe?
“Beside colours and prints, which are indeed very Marni the collection features some of my own signatures: grunge-inspired striped tees, wrinkled pajamas shirts and slouchy tailoring. And the combinations of bright and mellow colours, interspersed with a subtle ’70s nostalgia.”
The campaign is intended to invoke a sense of community.
The campaign’s visual concept is “Marni family”. Tell us more about that.
“I think that bonds are at the core of human experience, delineating our essence. Through our work, and what we share with each other as we create, we define a framework that is dense with meaning. I consider Marni both a destination and a platform for people that share the same values, it’s a brand in constant dialogue with the people around it – and isn’t that the very definition of community?”
Below, a preview of what you can expect from the collection.
