The first item I bought was the T-shirt I’m wearing now, under this sweater. This was right when Uniqlo U started, so just about ten years ago. I was drawn to the simple silhouette and gorgeous colors, the thick and sturdy cotton. At this point I’ve had at least fifteen of these. Twice every year, I’ll visit the UNIQLO store in the Le Marais neighborhood of Paris to check out the new Uniqlo U collection. I always come home with something interesting.

To me, Uniqlo U is about quality and an understated style that blends easily into your wardrobe. The pricing is accessible, which makes it easy to try out different styles. When I bought this amazing V-neck sweater three years back, drawn to its deep neckline, it was my first one ever, but now I can’t live without it. Something I feel when I’m wearing the hoodie I’ve had for four or five years, and also my twill checked shirts, is that these items are built to be broken in and last. That’s timeless craftsmanship in a nutshell.

The high functionality is another reason I keep turning to these items. I’m afraid it’s at my studio in the Perche, Normandy, but I even wear a Uniqlo U winter jacket when I’m woodworking in the colder months. The fabric is strong and warm. This isn’t just shaped like workwear, it’s actually built for wearing while you work.

“This jacket has the best pockets of anything I’ve ever worn. The pocket hidden right along the zipper is especially handy,” Frédéric says of his olive utility jacket from 2023. He owns several of the checked shirts and prefers a more oversized fit. He’s still wearing this black hoodie for the same reason as the T-shirts: it’s simple and resilient. “Lately it’s started feeling like a vintage item, making me feel even more attached.”

Born in 1990 in Marseille. Graduating from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville, Frédéric opened his studio in 2016 to have space to explore his passion for woodworking. Raised in the mountains near the French Alps, he played in the woods from a young age, and after pursuing a career in collectible furniture design, it was only natural that he would find his way to woodworking. Pictured in his Paris apartment with his own furniture and work by Romain Laprade.