UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

“Jack will be here soon.”
Jane said as she squinted her eyes in the bright Portland morning.

There was a salon-like connections amongst patrons at the cafés in Portland. You always felt a family-like warmth inside.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Jane!”
It was nice to hear this voice after some time. Yes, it was Jack.

“Hi ya!,” I said. “Well, what do you know!”
Surprised, Jack reached out both his arms to give me a big hug. When we told him about my coincidental encounter with Jane, he chuckled and said, “I’m not sure if it’s the world or the town that’s small but it’s brilliant!”

“By the way, there’s something I wanted to talk to both of you about, yes?”

After picking up his coffee at the counter, Jack leaned over to Jane, as though to confess something in secrecy.

“There’s this great story I heard last night and I’ve been dying to tell someone.”

“What kind of story?” Jane asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing big but I met this business owner who I respect. He is one of the successful ones in Portland and I asked how he did it and he goes, it was luck. We all work hard but what sets us apart at the end is pure luck…”

“I see, luck…,” said Jane.

“Yes, luck, so I asked him how one brings that luck around and he goes, it’s the face and the eyes. Isn’t that funny?”

I asked, “Face? Eyes?”

“Yeah, no matter how tough or difficult things get, don’t ever show it on your face. You always keep your chin up and keep a happy face. People like that have twinkles in their eyes and those who have that is who the goddess of victory smiles at.”

Jack continued.

“So, I asked, do I have a good expression? and he said, the best expression of a person is when they are just born, a face with no lies, just as they are. And he said, try to imagine how you looked like when you were just born and try to have that expression. If you work with that baby smile in mind, you can definitely get that luck on your side.”

“Right? Don’t you think this is an amazing story? I was so inspired by his theory of working with the impression of your newborn face in mind…”

Excited, Jack said, “So, from now on, I’m going to make it a point to have that good expression everyday so I can get that luck on my side.”

“Jack, you already have a wonderful expression and a definite twinkle in your eyes,” said Jane and gave Jack a hug.

Everything has been thought through from zero in this Compact Umbrella. Made with an eco-friendly fluoride-free fabric with a water-repellent finish. There are extra 2 ribs for a total of 8, for a more sturdy and stable use.

The main pole is made with a rigid aluminum alloy which is shaped not circular but multidimensional ellipse to make it more break resistant. We’ve also introduced the patented one-touch opening/closing technology to avoid the injuries from the broken clasp.

After taking a sip of his coffee, Jack, with a contented face, looked up at the clear blue sky from the window.

“Effort and capabilities are obviously important but that last push comes with luck…I think.”

“I think you already have a goddess of victory on your side because you have such a pure heart. I love how you are so inspired by this story you heard last night,” said Jane.

Jack was wearing a freshly-washed white polo shirt with a t-shirt underneath with a pair of cropped cotton chinos. And of course, with the belt and the shoes which are always so well kept.

Jack always knows how to create this laid-back atmosphere about him with a clean ensemble of the basics. He also has this amazingly innocent boy-like expression.

Jack and I are around the same age but he is one of those people who I would aspire to as a grown up.

“There is something I always find very interesting. For example, the shirt that Jack and I are wearing aren’t all that different. But it always looks more amazing on him. I always wondered why and wished that I can style it like you, Jack.”

“I think like that often, too, you know, you see someone just pulling it off so well. It’s not that they are wearing something expensive, but it looks so great on them and you wonder why and how,” said Jack as he put his arms over Jane’s shoulders.

“What’s interesting is the more stylish they are, the less they want to look stylish. I think people we find stylish just knows what they like and the size that works for them. It’s like they know how to effortlessly enjoy wearing clothes. That’s why they look so comfortable and that comfortable atmosphere about them makes them look stylish. Or they just have their own philosophy on how they dress.”

I asked, “So Jack, what are you careful about?”

“For me, I think it’s my posture, how I stand, sit, walk, eat, relax…I want to have this reserved elegance or such kind of unpretentious beauty about it, you know, not to look lax and slouchy…”

“Hey, it was so sunny but it’s coming down now…,” said Jane looking out the window.

“In Portland, we call this the blessed rain. Let’s have another cuppa,” said Jack.

The umbrella cloth rotates to ward off wind so you can safely use it in those gusty rain or even in crowded places when umbrellas tend to clash against each other. We’ve worked tirelessly to come up with the handle of the right size and shape for an easy grip.

The opening of the bag has been widened for easy storage with a detachable buckle that attaches to the umbrella so it won’t go missing. The stretchable drawstring on the buckle comes with a reflector. The eco-friendly material and processing that is break-resistant and functional. We think the UNIQLO umbrella you can use for a long time will help to reduce the burden on our environment.

This is a very small umbrella,
packed with new inventions.

COMPACT
UMBRELLA $14.90

Choose this items

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.”