UNIQLO today announces a collaboration line for UT (UNIQLO T-shirts) with the artist KAWS. Since its launch in 2003, UT has featured an array of pop culture graphics in such collaborations as SPRZ NY and the Shochiku Kabuki series. The new KAWS collection celebrates UT’s fusion of fashion with authentic pop culture.
KAWS is a renowned artist who cut his creative teeth on the streets of New York, his subversive images winning him considerable notoriety. Today, some of the world’s most renowned museums and galleries collect and exhibit his critically acclaimed artwork.
UNIQLO is committed to changing the world for the better through the power of clothing. UT is part of LifeWear, a concept first introduced in 2003 and which embodies a quest to enhance individual lifestyles by delivering quality clothing that is functional in design and versatile to wear.
Commenting on the new collaboration, KAWS said, “I have always enjoyed working in different medium, whether it be plastic toys, painting, bronze sculpture, or graphic design. UT is a cool canvas for making my artwork available to people virtually everywhere. I have enjoyed working with the UNIQLO team whose enthusiasm is unparalleled. It is great to be part of the amazing UT platform of my friend and fellow artist NIGO.”
UT Creative Director NIGO said, “KAWS has been a friend of mine for more than 20 years, and I’m very happy to collaborate with him for our 2016 UT items. I’m certain that the collection will be a hit around the world. I’ve created things with KAWS quite a few times before, and we’ve got a lot of respect for each other. This project was no exception. We went through a ton of ideas to come up with some great results. I think the T-shirts and other items in the collection reflect KAWS’s amazing worldview.”