UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

It’s been six years and three months since I met Asha. We were apart for the five years, but we stayed in each other’s hearts, always. In hindsight, those five years tested our bond. They were never lost on us.

“So, what should we do about, us?”

One morning, when I opened my eyes, Asha said as she sat up next to me.

“Hmm, yes, let’s stay together, well, actually, I want to be with you,” I said.

“Did you just propose?” Asha said and smiled.

“Well, yeah, kind of,” I replied.

I quietly took a tulip from the vase by the bed and presented it with both hands.

Asha quietly gazed into my eyes, accepted the tulip with both hands, and quietly said, “Thank you.” “I’ll go make some coffee,” and she headed over to the kitchen.

This is how it became official, husband and wife.

I had more anxiety and concerns, way more than your average folk. I had absolutely no plan as to how to realistically make this work. The concept of marriage was an unchartered territory but there was one thing that was absolutely certain for the both of us. We could not imagine our lives apart.

“We’re just going to keep moving on, hand in hand.”

The more I thought about the fear and the concerns, the greater it got but, when Asha said these words, I knew, for certain, that this was the right decision.

What have we been doing together up to now? Yes, we had always walked together.

Whether it was rain or wind. However rugged the path, however steep the uphill climb, sometimes just managing to hold on… we had always been by each other’s sides. On this foreign land, in this foreign city, keeping our eyes on that faint glimmer ahead, we walked, step by step. Supporting and encouraging, hand in hand, we have come this far, together.

This is why we will continue on our path. No, I want to continue this journey with Asha. I knew this with my heart.

If the road ahead is free from worries and concerns, then we should just be on our own separate ways. Because it is not so, we’re going to do this together.

“Preparation? No need. If we know this is right, we just have to get going.”

Asha was always the one with the action. That was how she opened up new frontiers in her life. Never letting the fear of failure bog her down.

“We just have to keep on walking, hand in hand.”

This was what marriage was, for us.

Theses high-rise straight jeans will realize the beautiful look for anyone who put their legs in. The thick 12.5-ounce fabric perfect for a straight fit accentuates the beautiful leg line, losing the unwanted body line. Much thought was put into the length so that they broaden the expression of the straight pair of jeans.

It’s a relaxed fit, perfected after trial after trial with test pattens, designs, and fitting to realize a refined look around the waist and the hips.

Asha loves to pick and choose what to wear for the day with a coffee in her hand.

“Hey, look. Aren’t these denims nice? They’re so like O’Keefe, right?”

Asha posed with a white t-shirt tucked into a straight hi-waist denim.

Asha admires Georgia O’Keefe, an iconic American artist. Her simple fashion style had greatly influenced Asha’s fashion design. She particularly adored the denim look from O’Keefe’s younger days so much so that she would frame a picture taken of O’Keefe back in the day.

“You see, this photo where she sits on the back of a motorcycle with the denims or this one as she stands with a skull of a bull in her hand. They are both hi-waist denim. So cool and cute.”

There was no stopping Asha when she started to talk about her love of O’Keefe.

I remember that photo of the artist sitting on the back of a motorcycle since I was quite fond of it, too.

“She roughly rolls up the denim just under her knees and had on white pair of sneakers. It was from when she was hitchhiking across New Mexico, right?”

“Exactly, because it was those straight wide denims, it made the hi-waist look so cute. The one where she’s holding the bull’s skull, with a chambray shirt tucked in, with a cardigan. I love that look, too.”

Asha lifted the waist of her denims in front of the mirror and said, “Yup, this is what I feel like now. I used to be like a skater and wore them around my hips but this is my look for now.”

I had to agree with what Asha. It looks good, particularly for women, when they wear a straight wide pair, tightened around the waist. A baggy blouse or a t-shirt would look nice with it.

Following her idol, Asha looked content putting on a pair of white canvas sneakers with the look.

Looking at Asha as she enjoyed emulating the fashion style of her icon, she had the perseverance to commit herself to what she loves, just like the artist, Georgia O’Keefe.

“It doesn’t matter if you succeed or fail. What’s important is that you learn something new.”
Asha took these wise words spoken by O’Keefe to heart.

Taking steps into the future, together. For Asha and I, that was all we wanted.

The world’s finest denim fabric designed with Kaihara, the premium Japanese denim manufacturer recognized in the world. It has just the right stretch with an authentic look of a vintage denim for a truly comfortable fit. The treatment that defines the expression of the denim has been achieved after a laborious research at UNIQLO’s Jeans Innovation Center in L.A.

The revolutionary sustainable wash method which minimizes the water and chemical used during the treatment has resulted in the tens of variations in the sample from which we selected the best color. The moment you take it into your hands, you are sure to enjoy its ultimate texture and expression.

My beautiful one
loves to take walks.
That’s why she looks so fine in those denims.

WOMENHIGH RISE
STRAIGHT JEANS

Not available

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.”