Jil Sander x Uniqlo +J returns, November 2020
Jil Sander's Uniqlo collaboration returns at just the right moment in fashion
The revived +J collections for men and women will launch at 7am on Thursday 12 November, and the current closure of non-essential shops in England means you'll need to be online early to secure a piece of what will no doubt be an in-demand release.
Interested? Preparation is key: peruse the just-released look books now and pick which of the pieces you'd like to add to your basket come the morning of the 12th. You can view the women's look book here, and the men's collection look book here.
We're particularly taken with the outerwear: the cashmere blend Chesterfield coat and the cashmere blend oversize fit jacket for women will likely never age, while Sander's take on Uniqlo's signature down jackets is comforting and cocooning.
+J Fine Cotton Oversized Regular Collar Shirt. The simple fly-fronted design is highlighted by subtle details like a hidden button placket, matching tailored body panels, gusseted chest pocket, and +J logo embroidery on the left hem. Slightly wider in the back, for a boxy, roomy look and elegant profile. Photo: Yoshio Kato © UNIQLO LifeWear Magazine
Initially launched in 2009, +J ran until 2011 and was revived in 2014 when the retailer reissued some of the most successful pieces. The fact that it's returning once again is evidence that the market for simple yet beautiful pieces has not waned, even in the face of increasingly statement looks driven by social media.
Reassuringly, an online interview with Sander reveals that the designer is as dedicated to aesthetic and functional rigour as ever. 'Today, we have e-commerce, bloggers, Instagram and much more,' Sander told the Uniqlo publication LifeWear Magazine.
'Social media is a great motor for the fashion industry. Fashion experienced a resurrection online, albeit with different rules. Yet I feel that we need more critical discourse online to differentiate between flashy looks and designs that actually improve the looks of real human beings.'
+J women's Hybrid Down Jacket using down and cotton insulation for different parts. An all-black minimalist design with hidden zipper and buttons, accentuated by the big collar and grosgrain pocket trim. Flaring bell-shaped sleeves create a refined feminine silhouette. Photo: Yoshio Kato © UNIQLO LifeWear Magazine
Teaser images accompanying the interview feature a boxy oversized white cotton shirt and a refined take on Uniqlo's signature down jacket with bell sleeves.
Uniqlo is known for the longevity of its collaborations: where other high-street stores favour one-offs recreating designers' signatures for a knock-down price, Uniqlo signs partners for multiple seasons, encouraging them to bring their visual language to an existing framework.
Here's hoping that +J is back for the long haul, then. Our wardrobes will be all the better for it.
In the meantime see what's new from Uniqlo including the latest instalment in its collaboration with Inès de la Fressange and an affordable loungewear collection from Princesse tam.tam.
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