We spoke to Jonathan Anderson about the inspiration and the concept behind the 2022 Fall/Winter collection.
This season will mark the fifth anniversary of the UNIQLO and JW ANDERSON collaboration. How do you feel? Can you share any memorable moments from over the years?
Over the years with each collection, we’ve developed this really collaborative relationship with Uniqlo that’s interesting to see evolve. Any good collaboration has to involve a meeting of two minds or two brands, with the blend or tension of the codes from each. It’s a challenge but the teams work together and we can see the elements of JW Anderson applied into the framework of Uniqlo. Uniqlo can tick boxes globally – I really admire that. I find Mr.Yanai and his vision so inspiring.
This season’s design inspiration is “British Modern,” with nods to its connection to architecture. Can you tell us a bit more about this?
There are some great examples of modern British architecture that were the inspiration for this season – mainly those that have a stripped back, minimalist sensibility. There’s a simplicity to the design but also attention to detail that we wanted to convey in the collection, that comes from the design codes of architectural minimalism.
This collection is much more minimal compared to previous seasons. What was the thinking behind this?
For this particular season, we wanted to clean up and refine in our approach for clothing.
What is your favorite piece from the collection?
My favourite piece is the padded coat in tobacco colour.
How do you manage all the design and production needs for your eponymous brand, LOEWE and UNIQLO and JW ANDERSON at the same time? What is the most challenging aspect of managing multiple collections each season?
I tend to think of projects and seasons like chapters in a year. Working between two brands, they both address different areas of the market and have different needs which helps to differentiate them. It keeps them creatively separate. Then through collaborating, we’re able to branch out further and consider an even wider audience to design for. It helps to keep me inspired.
When the UNIQLO and JW ANDERSON collaboration first launched in 2017, you said, “For me, the point of doing this collaboration was that I believe in democracy in fashion, and what I hope will be achieved is that any age demographic can pick up and find something within the collection to relate to.”
How does “democracy in fashion” affect your design process?
Working with Uniqlo is a great opportunity to dress a global audience, it’s a broader demographic - It makes you think differently. People can really have a personal relationship with the brand. I wear the brand myself all the time, there are so many great staples. The designs are accessible, but still with the attention to detail and ultimately the quality which sets them apart.