Tadashi Yanai touched down in Manhattan Tuesday to unveil Uniqlo’s new collaboration with Alexander Wang — an intimates collection designed to keep one toasty with the retailer’s Heattech fabric technology.
Yanai, chairman president and chief executive officer of Fast Retailing and founder of Uniqlo, praised Wang’s ability to balance beauty with tradition, making clear just how important the collaboration was and calling Heattech “our greatest masterpiece.”
This is the second time Wang and Uniqlo have connected, the first being a dress collaboration for spring 2008.
The press conference was held in a former fire house in the Chinatown section that opened first onto a “frozen room” with an Alexander Wang and Uniqlo ice sculpture and a frosted-over street scene with bicycles. Coconut flavored ice sweets were served.
Beyond that was the “hot room,” playing off the idea behind Uniqlo’s Heattech line and featuring looks from the collaboration, encased in the ice or in plexiglass cases.
The line — billed as “a functional apparel designer collaboration” — brings Wang’s minimal, street aesthetic to the retailer and will be available starting Nov. 9.
In a short conversation in front of reporters from 10 countries, John Jay, president of Fast Retailing’s global creative, and Wang recalled the creative process.
Jay
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