Intended for a line of innerwear and thermal clothing, Uniqlo’s innovative HEATTECH fabric has been engineered to generate heat while simultaneously storing it. With the aim of subtly elevating this base layer material, now, for the first time, it has been introduced as part of the Uniqlo U collection. The challenge set by the design team at the Paris atelier was to fashion sophisticated and versatile cotton T-shirts for both men and women. The results are perfect layering pieces that can be worn underneath clothing for warmth or for added aesthetic interest. They also have a strong design language that ensure they look elegant on their own as wardrobe staples. The key for achieving this was the development of a new version of HEATTECH fabric that is more substantial in weight, providing the garments with structure while continuing to be lightweight.
The practical beauty of the women’s top comes from their simplicity and, in creating these pieces, the design team wanted to reduce rather than add. On the one hand, it has the appearance of a long-sleeved T-shirt, but there is an absence of some of the visible codes associated with this garment archetype, such as the sporty ribbing. Instead there are fine and more elegant details which complete the look and the construction is also more studied. For instance, with the removal of the shoulder seams and with the skill of our expert pattern cutters, the fabric falls softly around the armhole creating a continuous, clean line. For men, the classic crew neck T-shirt has been perfected with subtle design details and a more relaxed cut acheived by slightly dropping the shoulder line while retaining balanced proportions. Ultimate warmth with design precision makes a perfect combination as part of the evolution of this simple everyday piece of clothing.