As the magazine enters its fifth year, allow us to express our gratitude to all the people who have shared their stories with us along the way. Each episode has given us new answers to the question of how we can improve our lives. This question may sound simple, but there are probably as many answers as there are people.

We’re always thinking about what UNIQLO and LifeWear can do to help. For this issue, we’ve taken cues from bigger topics like functionality and style and focused on the role of layering.

Consider Milan and Copenhagen, two cities with completely different styles. Every country has its own fashions, but layering multiplies the possibilities, and prizing functionality takes these possibilities even further, resulting in what we call an urban outdoor style.

As we put this issue together, we were fascinated by how basic items from UNIQLO can take on a whole new meaning depending on the outlook of who wears them. The goal is stylish functionality that can be customised to fit any personality, any culture. LifeWear is continually evolving to fit every way of life.

• Front Cover : Artwork by Daniel Barreto
• Back Cover : Photography by Mitsuo Okamoto

Artwork by Daniel Barreto

This issue’s cover art and this work were selected by the editorial team from the archives of artist Daniel Barreto, whose diverse output includes everything from illustrations to animation. The piece on the cover was inspired by the colour palette of the empty beaches at Baja California, Mexico.

• Translation : Sam Bett
• Proofreading : Shuchinsha Co., Ltd.
• Creative Direction & Art Direction :
• FAST RETAILING CO., LTD. Global Creative Lab Tokyo