UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

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Since coming to New York,
I found a book for someone, which led to a so-called job of selling books; found an apartment to rent; and met this wonderful girl named Asha who became my girlfriend. I couldn’t speak much English, and I didn’t have much money, but the fact that I was enjoying this modest happiness was all thanks to the friends I had.

In some respect, I was lucky, which got me thinking, what does it mean to be lucky like this?

Luck is not a chance happening nor a miracle, but despite the phrase “pennies from heaven,” there is always a reason. So where does it come from, this luck?

This morning, my breakfast was a bagel with blueberry jam and cream cheese with a very white coffee. As I munched on this, I started to gaze out the window and thought about what this luck thing is.

Because I began to get slightly scared that I had this luck now. It wasn’t going to last long. The unlucky will come eventually. I don’t need too much luck, just moderate luck. What does one do to balance out their luck? What does one need to do?

“Compared to those successful people in the world, I’m probably nothing, but I still consider myself to be pretty darn lucky. What can I do to remain so? Asha, any thoughts?”

I asked her as she sat across our tiny table.

“If you consider yourself to be lucky, either you believe you deserve it or you’re grateful. From the sounds of it, you’re the latter. As long as you keep that attitude, I think you can keep your luck.”

She said, as she toasted and buttered the bagel to her liking. In the morning she drank not coffee but water. That was her style.

Listening to Asha’s comment, I thought the gratitude for everything you encounter in your every day, including the people, is where this luck comes from.

“What’s difficult is how to recognize these tiny bits of luck, as most will probably miss it. Like when you’re walking down the street and you are graced with this lovely breeze. Most people will think nothing of it but I think that’s that bit of luck, ‘the wind feels so nice, how lucky am I?’ And you just say thanks to this state. That’s ideal for me. That’s how I feel about this shirt I’m wearing now,” Asha said and popped the last bite of the bagel in her mouth and smiled.

This is the ideal shirt, taking cues from the classic men’s shirt, resizing and fitting many times over to find the collar shape, the sleeve design, the roominess in the torso.

The relaxed silhouette that comes from bringing down the shoulder line. The perfect body length covers the hips, the deeper side slit looks great with a front tucked-in look. Stitches are kept simple in front for a casual but clean look.

This morning, Asha loosely wore a brisk white shirt over her skin.

It was slightly baggy, a bit off the shoulder which looked so lovely. The arms were just right but with the bagginess all around made it look so very comfortable.

“I loooove this shirt. It’s short, so it goes well with a skirt or pants, and I just like this collar which is slightly small. And this soft cotton is very comfortable. Even things like this, I don’t think yes, because I chose it, but how lucky am I every time I put it on. I find myself saying thank you. Can you see where I’m coming from? Or do you think I’m a bit silly?” she asked, taking a big gulp of water.

“No, I really do get it. It’s that bit of luck to have comfortable feel for the clothes you have on. You have this surge of gratitude. That is a nugget of happiness, indeed.”

“Exactly! I think it’s wonderful if you can be grateful for such kind of happiness. When I put on this shirt, I feel very loved. You see? Like the person who designed this shirt must have put so much thought into the emotions and lifestyle of the person who wears it, meaning there is so much love that went in to designing this shirt which starts off this chain of love. You feel so loved, which brings such joy and because you are grateful for that, you feel like loving others. Isn’t it wonderful how this chain reaction of love starts to grow? That’s why it’s so important not to miss out on these small bits of luck in our every day.”

“What an amazing concept, a shirt that makes you loving. I think the designer will definitely be happy to hear that. Come to think of it, you’ve always been saying that you want to design clothes like that.”

“That’s right! I want to design clothes that really take on board the various emotions of the people who wear it. That’s actually about loving everything. I think work is about giving back with your ability the luck you’ve been granted in your daily life. For me, that’s making coffee and designing clothes, too. It’s about being grateful for the bit of luck in our lives, not to hog but to share them. I think that’s how you bring in more luck in to your life.”

The clothes that makes me want to love image

Asha spoke as though she was sharing her life philosophy.

“At the end of the day, what’s important is to be grateful for the luck and do what you can to give back that luck. I think that’s the trick to keeping your luck.”

“I tend to take anything and everything as luck. I know, it’s strange, right? Even when something bad happens, I may be sad that moment, I quickly think, “This is another lesson in life, how lucky am I?”,” she continued as she toasted another bagel and put it on her plate.

“Oh, bagels are so good, lucky me,” she said rolling with laughter.

100% premium cotton is used for the fabric, with an exceptional texture that you can enjoy comfortably throughout the season.

The key is how it goes well with a wide variety of styles, with skinny pants, skirts, wide pants, and more. Tuck it in for a clean look, leave it out for a relaxed silhouette. This LifeWear is one you are bound to enjoy the myriad of expressions, regardless of the times.

Wear it just right
or slightly baggy with a dropped shoulder.
This is the shirt that brings out your glow.

WOMENEXTRA FINE
COTTON
LONG-SLEEVE
SHIRTP 990

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.”