UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

You may laugh but when something goes wrong when I’m away, the first thing that comes to mind is my mom’s face.

What would she do in a time like this?
I’ve overcome many challenges and obstacles during my travels asking precisely this question.

I rarely get to introduce my mother but if I was to describe her, I’ll probably say something like this.

“She’s a great cook but she’s the best traveler. She knows exactly how to prepare, enjoy, and choose the destinations. Anything to do with travels, she knows how and knows it well.”

I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m good but I definitely inherited the traveling bug from her.

“If you want to enjoy the destination, make sure you enjoy both the morning and the night time in that city. For example, during sunrise. Or around 2A.M. when all has settled down.”

It was before I even stepped out of Japan when she said as we were talking about something or other.

“Whatever the city, it’s at its best early in the morning. The way people start out their day, steam rising from a kitchen just before their breakfast service, people sleepily walking as they head out to work…it’s those bits of efforts in that time of the day. At night, you have those stopping by a coffee stand after a hard day’s work or those who work in the graveyard shifts, or those who are permanently working in those latenight slots. When I travel abroad, I make sure I walk around the city in the early mornings and late nights. Not many people and cars, it’s great because if feels like you have the city all to yourself,” she says, smiling with her eyes closed as though to be recalling back a scene from one of her travels.

“Most of my friends are people I met on my travels. When you go to a foreign country, try to engage the people you meet in a conversation so you can strike up a friendship.”

She would often get letters from abroad which she said were all from friends she made on her travels. I couldn’t figure out how my mom who really can’t speak English can become friends with a foreigner let alone engage in a conversation.

“The magic word is ‘Let’s.’ I always smile and invite them with ‘let’s’ to which most would say, ‘O.K,’ whether it’d be meals, walks, or shopping. The only English phrases I know are ‘Let’s’ and ‘Thank you.’ That’s how I made my friends.”
And boy, did she chuckle after this.

EZY Ankle-Length Pants that you can easily slip on while accentuating your beautiful leg line. This season, we introduced fabric with just the right heft so you can wear for all temperature, all seasons.

The waistband has that premium natural consistency with the rest of the pants as the yarn from the fabric is braided into the elastic itself. And with the fine curve, it beautifully fits those feminine waistlines. This is one of our proud details designed after many trials.

During my time in NY, there was this one time when my mom came for a visit out of the blue.

It was a few days after I told her on the phone that I was bedridden with a cold and fever.

She said she just happened to stop by because she had plans to meet up with her friend in NYC.

But it was a snow storm that day in NY.
And she was carrying big luggage in both her hands.

“Oh, and here,” she handed me her bags. I opened them to find that they were stuffed with rice cakes, rice crackers, snacks, instant miso soup, etc.

“I can’t grill rice cakes here,” I said.
“You’re fine, here, take this one, too,” she said and handed me her other bag that contained those oven toasters.

Obviously surprised, I said, “Why, how did you bring an oven toaster?”
“It helps to have one, from now, right?,” she said knowingly.

“Well, I have plans so I’ll be off now,” she said and briskly left my place.

I stared as she walked out the door in bewilderment. It’s so like her but I knew that she traveled all the way, just to come and see me. I plugged in the oven toaster in the small hotel room and prepared the rice cake which I ate as tears rolled down my face.

As I saw her walk out, I recognized that she was wearing her usual pair of pants. She always had a look for when she traveled which included the slim ankle pants.

“I like them for my travels as they are so easy to move around in. Great for planes and if I had a navy and beige, it would go with any top so it’s great. I always pack with these pants in mind. Shoes, blouse, and jacket which go with these pair.”

That’s when it hit me. There is always a trick to getting things in order whether it’d be clothes or interior items. It was a wisdom passed onto me from my mom.

You make your choices based on this one that is your favorite. It becomes easy to pack your suitcase that way and you don’t have to bring so much which works out well.

I wrote a letter to my mom.

“Dear mom

Thank you for the other day. Who would have thought that I can grill and enjoy rice cakes in NY? It was really good. Thanks to you, my fever has come down and I am fully recovered. By the way, where did you stay that day? Your friend’s? Because you had your usual travel fashion, I assume you were enjoying NY as always. With your usual ‘Let’s.’ See you.”

It doesn’t have that bagginess around your back for a flattering look along with the adjusted balance between front and back for a silhouette that accentuates your beautiful leg line. The dimensional cut for the crotch area offers a truly stress-free wear.

Plus, it comes in basic to accent colors, a wide variety to choose from. So, put them on with a blouse and heels for your work or enjoy the relaxed style with Supima Cotton T and sneakers. The clean silhouette and the refined
material is truly an almighty pair that works great
with anything you bring for your top.

Plus, it comes in basic to accent colors, a wide variety to choose from. So, put them on with a blouse and heels for your work or enjoy the relaxed style with Supima Cotton T and sneakers. The clean silhouette and the refined material is truly an almighty pair that works great with anything you bring for your top.

Select the style to go with
these Ankle-Length Pants, perfect.
My style is done.

WOMEN EZY
ANKLE-LENGTH
PANTS $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.”