UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

“No matter how casual your top is, it’s good to put on a fine pair of neatly pressed trousers. I just love a simple look, like a clean pair of trousers with a t-shirt,”

Asha often said to me. Until then, I only had a casual look, or a formal look and this style of mixing the two was a whole new concept to me. I learned a lot from her.

In one word, it’s a standard look, but it’s stylish.

Generally, men have this strong devotion to their favorite piece of clothing, and once they find it, they are content and don’t go far to think about the entire ensemble or a style. So sometimes a piece of clothing might be of fine quality, but it doesn’t look as such. I was a typical male in that.

“It’s not what you wear but how you wear that’s important, and it’s that styling, not the piece of clothing, that leaves an impression. It’s not the clothes that complements a person but the style. I want to make clothes that can be styled for such impact.”

Asha, who was studying fashion business while working in a café, continued.

And she lived true to her beliefs. It wasn’t what she was wearing but how she styled it that other women aspired to.

That day, she had on finely pressed wide khaki trousers with a white summer knitted top and bright white tennis shoes, accentuated by a loosely hung yellow scarf around her neck. Adding her great posture in her walk, people who passed by were really taken with her.

“T-shirts and denim jeans are nice for men, but if you wear sneakers, it’s not bad, but it’s a bit childish or casual. It’s fine for a day off but if you put on a pair of leather shoes, you can give off a completely different impression. And it’s better to go with a pair of short socks or even no socks.”

Every time we met, Asha gave me her critical observation of my style, accompanied by much positive encouragement and advice that made it easy for me to listen.

And when I nailed it, she truly commented from the bottom of her heart. When I had on a nicely pressed pair of trousers, she smiled and said, “it’s really handsome.”

These were the memories of my days with Asha that went through my mind as I returned to New York.

These are KANDO Pants ―ultra-light, ultra-stretchy, and quick-drying. It has the style of a British-born trouser but without the traditional hard-to-move, non-stretch feel.

This original material has been developed with Toray Industries, and you’ll be surprised how light and smooth it is. It’s stretchy not just in the fabric but also in the waist so you will never feel bound, however you move.

*KANDO - Japanese word for the greatest appreciation for an experience; feeling changed for the better.

The modest kitchen at my apartment had the sink and stove on the right side and worktop on the left with storage below. There was just enough space for one person to move in between, and there I decided to put a white wooden stool.

It was a three-legged Scandinavian stool which, I confess, I picked up by the roadside and painted white myself.

When I sat down on the stool in my small kitchen, it was like sitting inside a cockpit, almost taking me back to a nice childhood memory. It was like that special place inside a closet you just wanted to stay in forever.

The brrring of a fan and the strange smell of the many spices I bought without knowing how to cook all worked to my comfort. I also liked the fact that everything was in an arm’s reach.

I like this kitchen.

So now that I discovered this go-to place in my new apartment, as soon as I went home, I would sit there, have a cup of coffee, read a book or the paper, sometimes take a nap or just sit there dazed. I also loved this quaint little church I could see beyond the tiny window.

Oh yeah, I was in this very kitchen when I first wrote a letter to Asha.

I started going to the Coffee Shop in front of Union Square Park and that’s where I met Asha, who worked there.

We exchanged a few words there and then and after weeks, I began to look forward to seeing her there.

No matter how hard the day was or how anxious I felt, seeing her smiling face made everything alright.

I wanted to tell her this feeling of gratitude and I waited and waited for the right timing to say, “Thank you.”

But being the popular one at the café, it was difficult to get time alone with her. So I decided to write a letter, thinking I can at least hand her a letter. That’s why I took the pen.

Is this a love letter? No, it was a just a way to tell her my gratitude, but how should I write it? Do I write on a letter pad or a postcard? With all these thoughts going through my head, my heart started pounding.

Her face, her eyes, how she stood….the more I imagined how she was like, the more confused I became as to what to write.

So I just sat on the kitchen stool, without a word on the pad. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I wrote a proper letter.

My heart began to ache.

Extra fabric behind the pockets and the waist area is covered in “air dots,” special holes placed in a grid-pattern for ventilation. The antibacterial and anti-odor functions are great for summer. This super light and stress-free fabric comes with wool-like and cotton-like feelings to offer a wide range of styles.

This will no doubt be a must-have for business, golf, and a smart about-town look, especially when cropped to the ankle.

I wonder how many inspirations
I’ll have today?
That’s what I look forward to
when I’m wearing this pair of pants.

MENKANDO
PANTS
（WOOL-LIKE）$39.90

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.”