UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

Asha loves to walk holding hands and she loved to see others do the same.

“See? Look over there. Those two, they’re walking hand in hand. How lovely is that.”

She would often say this looking down on Broadway from our apartment window.

It could be kids, parent and child, or a couple. When she saw two people walking holding hands, she got giddy and excited.

So obviously when we walked together, we would be hand in hand. In the beginning, I was extremely embarrassed and I could never be the one to reach for her hand.

“Hey, why do I always reach out for your hand when we walk? Why?” she asked one day.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, I’m just embarrassed…”

“I get that, but me, I love seeing people walking holding hands. So I want us to do the same. As a woman, I would prefer that a man reaches out for my hand.”

“Ok, you’re right. Alright, give me your hand.”

“Thank you, this makes me so happy…”

Asha put her hand on top of mine, held it tight and swung our arms like a little child.

This became the norm for us that it gradually became odd for us to not be holding hands when we were walking. Her hands were soft, fingers skinny.

“Look at them, that old couple walking in front of us. Isn’t that lovely how they hold their hands together?”

One day, when we were walking on 5^th by Bryant Park, Asha whispered in my year. The elderly couple walked, keeping to their quiet pace.

“I wish we could be a couple who looks just as nice from the back, holding hands. I wish others would find us similarly nice. That would really make me happy.”

To make it easy to see that we’re holding hands, Asha tucked up the sleeve of her knitted coat.

“See, that elderly lady lifted the sleeve of her cardigan, too. When you can see the wrist, the two hands look so nice. I realized this just recently.”

When our wrists are showing, the two hands look so lovely. This was the bit of discovery Asha made and it became the way we held our hands together.

Asha’s hand and wrist that peeked out from the sleeve of her warm knitted coat did look lovely indeed.

Coupled with lightness and warmth, this knitted coat offers premium style. This is because of how the fabric is woven — the Jacquard weave creates a tweedy texture. But its soft, crease-resistant feature gives you that casualness you can just throw on.

Extra thread was used on the neck opening, the edges of the placket, and the pocket opening, boosting durability and highlighting the design, the classic beauty of a knitted piece.

Seeing this elderly couple holding hands made me think about my mother. My parents would never hold hands as they walked in public but in the house, I would often see my mom, leading my father by the hand because of his handicap.

The other day, when I went home, I spent a day with my aged mother. It had been a while.

A warm autumn afternoon. My mom came and sat next to me with an old-looking book.

“I’m not sure how many times I read this book.” In her wrinkled hands was The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

When I was small, because we didn’t have a TV, my favorite time at night was when my mother would read to me.

She was so good at doing the voices for each of the characters that she made me believe that they were there, right in front of my eyes.

Listening to my mother, I would be on a roller coaster of emotions, excitement, fascination, sadness…it was pure enjoyment.

“Should I read it to you? It has been a while,” said mother.

“I like the scene with the fox,” I said.
She smiled and said, “That’s right. You loved that scene so much I don’t know how many times I read it.”

It was my favorite. It was a scene where the prince meets the fox. It went,
“Hello.”
“I’m here, under the apple tree.”

My mom with her reading glasses quietly began the story.

Her voice carried the story. As I listened, I thought nothing has changed. Her voice was exactly as she sounded when I was small.

It was quiet, gentle, warm, and just seeped into that deepest part of your soul.

When she finished the chapter, “Ok, that’s all for today. The rest is for tomorrow. The end.” She finished the story exactly as she did and closed the book.

Mother caressed The Little Prince like a treasure.

I told this story to Asha as we walked.

“Thank you for that. You have such a wonderful mother. My mom often read to me, too…”

“I miss her…”

Asha tucked in our hands in the pocket of her knitted coat and continued walking.

No collar and a clean silhouette with the perfect length makes this a true everyday staple. A classic look when paired with a turtleneck. Go casual, leaving it unbuttoned.

Or create a layered look with an Ultra Light Down Jacket as an inner layer. Wrap a stole or snood or wear with skirts or trousers. You can also do a solid head-to-toe ensemble for a monochromatic look.

It’s new but brings back fond memories.
This is the beautiful coat
that gives you such breadth and comfort.

WOMENTWEED
KNITTED COAT$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.”