A peek at Uniqlo’s 2022 spring/summer LifeWear collection
In a stressful and seemingly uncontrollable situation like the pandemic, we find happiness in the little things we do have control over such as what we wear. The association of our outfits with our state of mind has been garnering more and more attention. Style publications foresee “dopamine dressing” as an emerging trend for 2022. The concept, based on the name itself, involves dressing to feel good—boosting one’s morale and confidence through clothes.
Catching on with the trend is Japanese global apparel retailer Uniqlo with its recent launch of the 2022 spring/summer collection. The catalog, themed “The joys of clothing,” consists of apparel that suits any season and setting, whether the city, by the seaside, in the middle of nature, or at home. It is all about fresh, comfortable, functional, and stylish pieces that evoke positivity.
The brand highlights the simple pleasures of finding our second skin, the bliss in people and clothes finding each other. The latest lineup is diverse, with blazers that encapsulate modern life in the city, soothing and roomy shorts for trips to the great outdoors, as well as breezy linens and madras shirts in lively colors that could be worn at the beach. This season, four sub-themes have been introduced, tied to the idea that garments bring happiness and comfort to their wearer wherever, whenever.
The Joys of Skyline
City dwellers relish the convenience of a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Whether it’s a visit to the neighborhood cafe with friendly baristas or a delicatessen selling artisanal cheeses or reporting for work, the urban way of living requires contemporary and modern getups, which could be worn at on or off-duty.
The Joys of Landscape
Delight in life off the grid: Amid the rustling of the wind through the trees and the crunching of leaves underfoot, colors and textures blend in with the scenery of nature.
The Joys of Imagination
Art and sophisticated designs stir the senses. Playful thoughts wander and enter brilliant new worlds. Inspired by vibrant and uplifting colors.
The Joys of Sun and Seaside
An afternoon by the beach, soaking up the sun and the breeze calls for natural textures, linen fabric, and apparel that drapes effortlessly over the body. Comfortable wear, as well as the stresses of daily living, is easy to shed off when it’s time for a dip.
Style publications foresee 'dopamine dressing' as the emerging trend of 2022.
The Uniqlo U collection, on the other hand, aims to support the daily rhythm of all lifestyles. Artistic director Christophe Lemaire and the design team in Paris have produced relaxed, loose-fitting, and clean silhouettes for the ultimate in comfort.
“It is about creating functional, universal, essential pieces that free movement, are designed to last, and bring solutions to everyday life. This is in accordance with the concept of Uniqlo, which is LifeWear,” says Christophe. “So there are no new concepts, but different vibes, season after season. This season is very much about creating better fabrication, and trying to bring a fresh twist.”
The palette features earth tones in brown, khaki, and olive, as Christophe visualizes colors that easily match without being too loud. In psychology, brown provides feelings of organization, history, connection, coziness, and relaxation. Warm, neutral colors, such as faded tones of orange, vermillion, green, and military blue also make an appearance. In addition, offered again this season is another kids’ collection.
The UT collection, a range of T-shirts inspired by pop culture, art, music, movies, manga, and films, also has something new on offer. One is a line of monochromatic Mickey Mouse art by Joshua Vides. The artist is famous for his immersive installations and products that embody the essence of pop art. Another is a partnership with Magnum Photos, a cooperative that has visually documented most of the world’s major events and personalities since the 1930s. The collection includes iconic photographs shot by Alec Soth, Eli Reed, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Gueorgui Pinkhassov, Elliott Erwitt, and Martin Parr.
The final collection this season features Keith Haring’s debut exhibition at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in New York City in 1982. Joining Haring are collections showcasing the art of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Aside from the sub-themes, also part of the collection are collaboration pieces that reflect several aesthetics, all grounded in joy.
Hana Tajima returns to create her first all dress collection. The New York-based fashion designer produced garments made to be lived in, with understated yet iconic styles. Her lineup features deep greens and blues inspired by nature and flower patterns found in Tajima’s garden. These patterns could likewise be found on handdrawn scarves.
Inès De la Fressange turns to Marrakesh in creating her collab collection. She crafted high-quality and elegant yet casual items that liberally use cotton, linen, and silk. The womenswear is infused with menswear elements in natural colors and warm accents in reds, oranges, and pinks. The lineup stays true to de la Fressange’s DNA of effortless chic that is truly French, truly Inès.
Jonathan Anderson, who is never far from the sea, was inspired by sailing and the culture of seaside towns and ports when developing this collection. The sapphire blues of the sea, the soft browns of seashores, and the calming beiges of chalk cliffs are combined with red, green, and blue elements, reminiscent of maritime signal flags. This nautical narrative is expressed through rope details, performance fabrics, patchwork, and asymmetrical elements.
The 2022 spring/summer collection is now available at all stores nationwide. Download the Uniqlo app or visit its social media pages: facebook.com/uniqlo.ph | twitter.com/uniqloph | instagram.com/uniqlophofficial | uniqlo.com/ph.