UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

Something I can do well. Find something I can do better. For the sake of others…

It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t look fabulous to others. I’m sure there are thing or two that even I can excel at.

So some things come to mind.

It may not be something to brag about, but one is cleaning and tidying up. Since I was small, I was good at cleaning and tidying up things in my room.

I’m not sure why this came to mind but with cleaning, it’s about knowing you need to do it not just where you can see but where you can’t, and if you do a really good job, the end result looks so different. Cleaning places you cannot see seems to change the feel in the air, and I’ve always felt that as somewhat mysteriously magical.

With tidying up, I liked to think about what the best order would be, and I was pretty quick, moreso than most people. To me, it was like solving a puzzle.

So in all my life, I’ve never felt cleaning and tidying to be a chore. In fact, I welcomed it. I liked that sense of accomplishment when all things have been put away and all is clean.

So sometimes I think I’m not obsessed with cleanliness, but I would simply do a better job with the cleaning and tidying up.

And there’s one more thing.

Whether it’d be an item or a person, I was good at finding its positive qualities. When I was small, I often thought to myself why people don’t recognize the beauty of this, that, and the other. I thought maybe I have different sets of value but eventually, they all come to realize it and I think, “See, I told you so.”

If there was a race for spotting the good quality of something, I’m a solid champion. Slightly bigheaded of me, I know.

In any case, I felt nothing but gratitude towards Jack for making me realize the importance of finding something that I can do better.

For just a moment, my future had a ray of hope. It wasn’t all doom and gloom anymore.

The futuristic design uses pressure bonding instead stitching in the iconic quilting design of a down jacket. The stitch-free feature prevents wind and rain from passing through as well as down feathers from escaping.

The light yet durable ripstop fabric, with its sporty exterior, is finished with a premium matte coating. A thorough application of a water repellant material on the surface takes up the durable water repellency a couple of notches. The high performance and lightness give ample warmth, even if you are dressed lightly underneath. No doubt, this is your trusty partner for the dead of winter.

That’s right! I realized one more thing.

Something I can do better… in this search for something I can improve on, in other words, my good qualities, I can similarly try to find out what I’m not good at, what I don’t know, etc.

In fact, I’m really good at spotting the good qualities of things, but I also know the unfavorable aspects as well, and I now recall I tended to just not say anything about them.

“All things have their good qualities and not so good qualities, and they are equally important.”

I remember this is what my dad used to say.

I guess you don’t have to be too stuck on your shortcomings, but I also think it’s important to know what they are, what you don’t like.

I look up at the starry night and see this huge round moon, hanging above the skyscrapers and people rushing about, bracing the chills.

And so I said to myself.

These thoughts are all very well, but what it comes down to is how I can be of service to the society. For that, I need to see the world. More of it, go deeper, go wider.

Even the clothes I have on now. They were made by someone passionate about their job with a belief that he can make something better.

Maybe there is something out there that I can do better, or it could be just sitting in front of me.
So I should just take a good look at the outside world.

And find people who might be in need. I should be more aware of such people because I’m sure problems out there are infinite. And there must be one or two that I can be of help with.

As I was just about to pass Union Square Park, I bumped into my friend, Seth.

Since we see each other often, it wasn’t a surprise but to bump into a friend on the street, I thought, how New York.

Seth looked nice and warm with an airy down jacket and a striped winter scarf wrapped around his neck.

“Evening, Seth. Say, that down jacket looks really warm.”
“Hey, temperatures will continue to drop in New York, so you should put on a down jacket, too. You know, I really look forward to putting these on each morning,” said Seth and hurried along as he was late for his gym.

That’s when I recalled seeing Jack’s down jacket in the closet back at the flat.

Tomorrow morning, I shall put on a down jacket.

We designed the hood pattern and structure to keep its form even when the zipper is open or the hood is not being worn. A minimalist design positions the drawstring adjuster inside the hood and around the hem.

The inner collar and the ribbed inside sleeves blocks out the wind. Fleece lining for the outer pockets. All to keep the warmth. The inside pocket around the right hip is big enough to fit a magazine. The left chest pocket is equipped with an earphone hole. All stylish and function, this is LifeWear philosophy, concentrated.

Winter has become not a nuisance,
but a fun season.
Get colder, I’m fine.
I’ve got my down jacket on my side.

MENSEAMLESSDOWN PARKA$149.90

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.”