UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

You often get asked,

“So what are you doing in New York?”

I’m studying fashion. I’m taking photos. I’m working on a painting, training to be a chef, doing business…I was the only one without a response.

To me, everything was daunting.

The city, the people, the time, the sounds, the various smells, even the garbage scattered on the ground was overwhelming.

“I have to make my mark.”

I told myself every morning, as I looked up at the soaring skyscrapers.

But with what?

It simply felt strange to be in this big metropolis, alone, not having any clue as to what I’m here to do…this wasn’t how it was it supposed to be for me in New York….

Every morning, I would take a book and head to Central Park. I would find a place in the teardrop-shaped greenery in Strawberry Fields and just read until dusk. This was one of my favorite places in New York.

I was reading The Improvisatore by Hans Andersen. The story is set in Italy, about the young Antonio and his emotional journey. Pondering about the inevitable question about the meaning of life and a romantic affair. Don’t rush into things. Things have a way of falling into place. The beautiful days of adolescence. I was simply mesmerized with the words that filled the pages. That’s it! Words. How would I describe my state now? The question brewed in my mind as I lay down on the grass, turning the pages.
In the large open asphalt at the entrance of Strawberry Fields, surrounded by benches, is the Bombay mosaic marble with the word IMAGINE.

Every morning, around the same time, an 80-some-year-old woman with a cane comes to this bench and feeds the pigeons and the squirrels. Every morning, we meet and exchange our morning greeting, her voice faint but gentle.

She always wore the same thing - a well-worn leather riders jacket, covered in many similarly color-worn patches, and a bright-red skirt.

When she finished feeding the animals, she would sit there, reading a book and enjoying her hot thermos drink. As it got closer to noon, she would slowly lift herself off the bench and walk out from the Strawberry Fields.

I have someone I can exchange morning greetings with! How I looked forward to that bit of joy in the morning, to meet this old lady.

After many such mornings have passed, one day, she asked me a question.

“So what do you do?”

The matte texture with a lovely glow. The super-fine creased design. After many attempts to create an authentic leather look, we developed this new Neo Leather.

Its soft, light body comes from an ultra-light sheet cotton, and it has improved thermal properties. It is now fully fit to be the outerwear.

“Have a seat, please,” she said, pointing to the space on the bench next to her.

“It’s quite chilly this morning…” I said and quietly plopped down next to her.

“I hope you don’t mind me talking to you. I see many people each morning but you kind of stood out for me. If you don’t mind, tell me what you are doing here. You are Japanese, I assume,” and she continued to share her name.

“I am! I’m surprised you noticed. I’m embarrassed to say that I’m not doing anything special. That’s why I come here every morning and read a book,” I continued.

“So you spend the entire day here, reading a book?”

“Yes, I lie around in that grassy area and read until dusk.” She looked surprised for a moment, but her face quickly showed a great joy.

“That is simply wonderful. You are doing an amazing thing. It’s oh-so-busy out there, but you are spending a day reading a book! So, are you enjoying yourself?” she asked.

“As a matter of fact, I am.”
“So what do you like about it?” she asked, leaning in towards me with a blissful smile.

“I’m so inspired by the various expressions I encounter in the book. It could be talking about an emotion, a situation, it varies. But the process of verbalizing it, as one expression, an eloquent expression. Which makes me think about the many things that have yet to be verbalized and the possibilities of them turning into beautiful expressions. That thought gets me excited. And I just love reading a book and thinking to myself, ‘how would I express this emotion or this state?’”

I lost myself in sharing my story to her and that’s when she put her hand on my back and said,

“You mean you spend the entire day being inspired by words and sentences and think about how you would describe it. Do you know how amazing that sounds? The most precious thing we can do in life is to be truly inspired from the heart. Such inspirations will become part of your creativity to form your identity. So many people are in New York busy and working, caught up in the competition, and you think, how many of them actually are truly inspired throughout their day? Someday, when you are filled to the brim with these inspirations, you’ll definitely feel the urge to do something. It will come naturally.”

She then poured the hot tea for me and glanced at the title of my book, The Improvisatore.

“There’s somebody I want you to meet,” she said.

While maintaining the slim fit unique to leather jackets, the jacket boasts pleasant silhouette that goes with any top. Original zipper tabs for the front and pockets offer authentic simplicity.

Despite taking out the epaulets and the back buckle, details iconic to a leather riders jacket, it keeps the roughness of the layered front. This is a new interpretation of a leather riders jacket, sure to satisfy the refined eyes of the old school as well as those fresh on the scene.

Wear it every day. Wear it no matter what.
Don’t worry if it fits the style.
That’s how a leather riders jacket becomes
an extension of your will.

MENFAUX LEATHERDOUBLE-BREASTED
JACKET$59.90

Choose this clothes

What is “LifeWear story 100?”

At UNIQLO,
there exist these lines of clothes
which has remained for many years,
trend-neutral
yet never dated.
Out of the line-ups,
they are the unsung presence,
sitting quietly behind in TV ads.

Yet, they are the culmination
of the years of passion and devotion,
where UNIQLO sought to pursue
more comfort,
more durability, and
more quality.

They give shape and gravitas
to what and who UNIQLO is,
and what UNIQLO continues
to nurture with great care.

To go beyond yesterday,
to reach higher tomorrow.

When you take it in your hands,
when you try it on,
it softly speaks to you,
almost like a friend.

What is a rich quality
lifestyle?
How is such a quality day spent?
What does happiness mean to you…

And you will find yourself
surprised to discover that such
piece of clothing has existed.

What is the UNIQLO principle?
Why do we call clothing LifeWear?
What kind of clothes constitute
LifeWear?

Here, we go deep into
the root of LifeWear,
to know
and to tell.
And I hope to write
stories that revolve
around LifeWear and myself.

LifeWear story 100 will be
a story about a journey with me and LifeWear.

Yataro Matsuura

Essayist, editor. Born 1965 in Tokyo.
For nine years from 2005, under the leadership of the founder, Shizuko Ohashi, he was the chief editor for the magazine, “Kurashi no Techo.” Since, he launched an online media site, “Kurashi no Kihon.” Currently, sits as a director for Oishii Kenko Ltd. Recognized for his eye for style and experience in presenting ideas for quality lifestyle. Regularly writes in his columns in newspapers and magazines. Has penned numerous best-sellers including “Kyo mo Teinei ni” and “Shigoto no Kihon Kurashi no Kihon 100.” Hosts a radio program on NHK Radio 1, “Karen Style.”