UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura｜Women Extra Fine Merino Ribbed Turtleneck Sweater

That day, the glorious sunbeams and the usual hustle and bustle of NYC from the window slowly woke me up as I curled up inside my bed.

I lifted myself up from the bed and shivered from the chilly air in the room. “It’s winter,” I said to myself.

I quickly put on a cardigan and a pair of socks and went to the kitchen to put on the kettle.
I opened a fresh bag of coffee beans, and the beautiful aroma of the Guatemalan coffee beans filled the air. I took my wooden spoon, scooped up two spoonfuls of beans, poured them into the coffee mill, and began to turn the handle. I couldn’t get all my energy in as I had just woken up. Asha would always get on my case saying that I have to put my muscles in.

It used to be two coffee mugs, but today, I took out just the one for myself. I poured the hot water into the mug to warm it up, one of the tricks that Asha had taught me for a great cup of coffee.

I neatly folded the paper filter and set it on the dripper where I poured the ground coffee powder. I placed the dripper over the coffee pot and began to slowly pour the hot water. The lovely coffee vapor gradually spread, and by this time, my sleepy eyes would be open, finally.

Usually, I would pour the coffee and put the mugs on the table by the window. It was a routine for Asha to say “good morning” as she sat down at the table, to which I would respond with a “morning,” and then we would both take a sip and say, “Ah, that’s good,” at the same time.

This morning, I said, “morning,” to myself.

Asha leaves for Paris this afternoon. For our last night in New York, we decided to spend it apart, alone in our own apartments, knowing that we won’t see each other for a while from tomorrow.

“I have things to get ready, and I’m afraid if I spend it with you, I’ll just get weak. Not that I will change my mind, but it will become more difficult if you are right in front of me. So, let’s spend tonight separately, away from each other,” she said and gave me a peck on the cheek.

“Ms. Renee is going to pick me up tomorrow at 2:00PM, so can you be here around that time? We can all go to the airport together.”

“Ok, got it, sure, that’s fine,” I said, gave her a hug, and went back to my apartment.

As I had my morning coffee, still in a bit of a haze, I began to reflect back on the days I spent with Asha in the city.

The parka that Asha had since she was small was hung on the seatback of the chair across the table.

“Ok, I’m going to leave this parka with you. You take good care of it for me, ok?” said Asha as she squeezed her parka in my bag with a smile on her face.

This Extra Fine Merino Ribbed Turtleneck Sweater is made entirely with 19.5-micron-wide, ultra-fine Merino wool.

Our key focus was the sweater’s shape, our proud creation after years of revisions to create the perfect foundation. For example, the neck falls to the front, creating a beautiful line from the shoulder to the neck — a slim silhouette without being too snug.

There was something Asha had asked me to do before she left for Paris.

It was to put a chain on the pendant charm I had found in an antique market in Brooklyn and give it to her for good luck in Paris.

It was a 1940s antique, a silver-framed piece with small pieces of beach glass inside. When you put it against a light, the blue and the green colors shone beautifully. It was her favorite.

I asked a friend of mine who works in the Diamond District on 47th, a street full of jewelers, to find the perfect silver chain for the beach glass charm.

“I think a finer chain is better for Asha, which works with the small-size of the charm,” she said and showed us chains with different widths and lengths.

“I think the charm would go great with this turtleneck,” said Asha and handed me her favorite white turtleneck so that I could match it against the various chain options.

So I spread out the turtleneck on the table and laid the necklace around the neck. Just as Asha said, the colorful beach glass went perfectly with the white turtleneck. The delicate silver chain looked so elegant that I knew Asha would love it.

My friend had kindly wrapped the necklace in a giftbox. All that was left for me to do is to hand it to Asha, along with her turtleneck.

I turned on the radio, and the forecast said that it would be sunny with blue skies throughout the day, except for the low temperature under 10℃.

I unwrapped the cinnamon roll I had bought with the coffee yesterday and put it on a small plate.

When we first started going out, I used to use the wrapping as a plate. But soon, Asha taught me that “food tastes better if you put it on the plate.”

I poured myself a second cup from the mug and took a bite of the cinnamon roll. Usually, Asha would ask me, “How is it? Is it nice?”

With the vision of Asha in the white turtleneck and the necklace, I took a second bite.
How I wished that time would stop…

We made it machine-washable, so it’s easy to wear and care for. A special finish is applied so that the sweater will pill less. Choose from 14 colors ranging from vibrant to luxe. You can wear the sweater inside or on its own because of the vivid presence it creates.

So, whether you are off to work, headed out to town, outdoors, or on a holiday, this LifeWear will be your friendly confidant through and through.

Being simple
Is simply the best.
Being elegant
Is my absolute best.

WOMENEXTRA FINE
MERINO RIBBED
TURTLENECK
SWEATER$29.90

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.”