We interviewed Yosuke Aizawa about the collection.
How did your first ever collaboration with UNIQLO come about?
I’ve always had the theme of “family” in my mind, so I thought I can fuse what UNIQLO is aiming for, which are “made for all” and crossing over the generations and races, with my ideal as a fashion designer.
How did you translate the style of White Mountaineering which crosses over urban life and outdoor into this collection?
Sport and outdoor details can be used effectively in your daily life, such as going to a park or taking a walk. It is not just cool as a fashion, but also by combined various elements of functionality for movements, outdoor details, texture and heat retention effect, I presume I was able to feed back the technology and knowledge that I had gained through outdoor wear into UNIQLO.
“Easy to move and comfortable to wear” is the keyword. What are the points you were particular about in details and designs?
One of my main considerations when designing clothes is the movement of the wearer. Clothes should be easy to move in and not create stress.
Even when sitting in a chair, driving a car, or walking, your joints are always bent. Human beings don't stand upright all of the time.
To apply the knowledge I have learnt about sportswear and outdoor clothing from White Mountaineering to UNIQLO, I had to consider the diverse customer base. Three-dimensional cutting was definitely an important process for this collection.
The way you value the communication that can be created through clothing is impressive.
While working with various people for many years, fashion is very important when it comes to how communication is facilitated. Of course music and art are important as well but I think clothes is also established as a common language. After this collection is released, I would be very happy to see someone wearing this UNIQLO x White Mountaineering outfits in casual way.