If the name Maiko Kurogouchi doesn’t ring a bell, start reading up. The Japanese designer is the latest name to collaborate with Uniqlo for the upcoming innerwear-focused Uniqlo X Mame Kurogouchi collection.
The Uniqlo x Mame Kurogouchi collection goes big on chic and comfortable separates.
A quick rundown: Kurogouchi’s contemporary womenswear label, Mame Kurogouchi (Mame, the Japanese term for bean, is her childhood nickname), has been around since 2010, but it’s mostly been an underrated gem within her native country until 2017, when she won the Fashion Prize of Tokyo.
The latter enabled her to start showing at Paris Fashion Week, where industry insiders have been lapping up Kurogouchi’s quietly sensual and elegant vision – which often includes traditional Japanese techniques, fabrics and crafts.
The pieces make for easy layering.
It seems only natural then, that Uniqlo has tapped on Kurogouchi as its next designer collaborator. The collection, which launches June 18, focuses heavily on innerwear pieces: think bra tops, lingerie, camisoles and slip dresses with a smattering of minimal separates to complement them.
While they look simple at first glance, the pieces feature details such as thin straps, gold-coloured hooks and organic curves that add a considered and subtly luxurious mood – much in line with Kurogouchi’s thoughtful designs for her own label.
The designs also utilise some of Uniqlo’s most famous technologies, including Airism and 3D knitting.
Innerwear pieces – the highlight of the collection – feature dainty details such as gold-coloured hooks and sensual curves.
If it may come across as intriguing to focus on innerwear pieces for Kurogouchi’s first Uniqlo collection, we’d say there’s no better time to be introducing comfortable apparel that possesses a subtle and refined element of design (we’re digging the ribbed pants that come with slits at the front hem).
Below, a round-up of pieces to snag.