We interviewed Yosuke Aizawa about the collection.
How did your first-ever collaboration with UNIQLO come about?
I’ve always had the theme of “family” in my mind, so I thought I can fuse what UNIQLO is aiming for, which are “made for all” and crossing over the generations and races, with my ideal as a fashion designer.
How did you translate the style of White Mountaineering, which crosses over urban life and outdoor activity, into this collection?
Sport and outdoor details can be used effectively in your daily life, such as going to a park or taking a walk. It is not just cool as a fashion, but also by combined various elements of functionality for movements, outdoor details, texture and heat retention effect, I presume I was able to feed back the technology and knowledge that I had gained through outdoor wear into UNIQLO.
“Easy to move and comfortable to wear” is the key phrase. What are the points you were particular about in details and designs?
One of my philosophies about making clothes is based on the premise that people move. I’m not interested in clothing that's hard to move in and makes you feel stressed.
Even when sitting in a chair, driving a car, or walking, some joints are always bent; human beings don't just stand upright all the time.
Our answer is to apply 3-dimensional patterns to optimize the important details inherent to sporty, high-functioning outerwear.
It is impressive you value the communication created through clothes.
While working with various people for many years, fashion is very important when it comes to how communication is facilitated. Of course music and art are important as well but I think clothes is also established as a common language. After this collection is released, I would be very happy to see someone wearing this UNIQLO x White Mountaineering outfits in casual way.