UNIQLO SPECIAL

So, the Danish has the best quality of life in the world according to a report by the American think tank Social Progress Imperative recently. Not surprising coming from a culture who’s approach to life is to — wait for it — “hygge”.

For starters, the word (say “hue-gah”) has made it to the English vocabulary. Oxford Dictionary even shortlisted it as the word of the year in 2016, thanks to the number of books about it that popped up and a general interest in that laidback lifestye. To the Danes though, it’s really about a  well-being-focused approach towards life with comfort and cosiness. Trivia: Danish doctors actually recommend those with a cold to get tea and, you’d guessed it, hygge.

Flash forward to this season and Japanese fast fashion retailer Uniqlo is spreading the word.  For this, it turned to the latest Fall collaboration — and the brand’s eighth — with French style icon Ines de la Fressange. Known for her chic, can-do-no-wrong wardrobe staples, de la Fressange’s collection is especially primed for the hygge movement this season.

The 90-piece women’s collection comprises loads of sumptuous knitwear like cable knit and Fair Isle sweaters and intarsia colour-blocked pullovers. There is also an emphasis on corduroy which appears on items like mini skirts, suits and Nehru-collared cropped jackets. Topping them off are the idiosyncratic touches such as the signature red stitching around the buttonholes.

But the women are not the only ones to hygge in this collection. For the first time, Uniqlo and de la Fressange has created an 18-piece menswear collection which reflects the same relaxed aesthetic. All the pieces will be stocked exclusively at Uniqlo’s Orchard Central store and e-store – the first batch of the collection was launched just last week, with a second batch to arrive on October 20.

Together with Uniqlo, we’ve gathered our own clique of friends to showcase the spirit of hygge. They are musicians Joanne Cheah and Nicholas Kent Tann from “tropical-pop” band Specific Islander, artist-to-watch Luke Heng, and our very own writer Sofia Kim. Browse through the gallery to see how they channel that movement.