Few cities capture the beat of fashion and art quite like New York. Its energy, diversity, and creative spirit made it the ideal setting for Uniqlo’s 20th anniversary in the United States. To mark the milestone, the brand hosted a celebration at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), bringing together global ambassadors, fashion insiders, and long-time partners to honor two decades of retail innovation and to unveil what’s next.

The week began on a high note as MoMA opened its doors on a Monday evening. On Sept.15, 2025, invited guests from around the world stepped into a transformed museum space, greeted by installations that looked more like an immersive runway, featuring its fall-winter 2025 collections. Mannequins stood in clusters, styled in a myriad of warm and cool-tone palettes, layered with knitted tops, sleek puffers, fluid skirts, and tailored pants. Textile innovations were on display as well, alongside the brand’s “Peace for All” charity T-shirt project, which proves that the fashion industry can make a difference—raising $16.6 million since 2022 for global organizations, aiding those affected by conflict, poverty, and discrimination.

This exhibit set the tone for the evening’s theme, “The Art and Science of LifeWear,” with a powerhouse lineup of speakers sharing how Uniqlo continues to enrich everyday life.

Fashion is at its best when it adapts to real life, offering comfort, versatility, and a way to express oneself. “It can be mixed and matched as desired and used as a tool to further personalize the wearer’s lifestyle,” explains founder and CEO Tadashi Yanai on his vision of accessible fashion for all. “The ultimate everyday clothing, readily available for people everywhere—this is what we call LifeWear.”

Materials innovation was also in the spotlight. Toray Industries, Uniqlo’s longtime partner, revealed how its advanced fiber, from featherlight Pufftech to cooling Airism, fuses performance with sustainability. “We’ve always believed that materials can change lives,” said Toray Industries president Mitsuo Ohya. “Our shared purpose is to create clothing that makes everyone’s life better.”

Of course, the event also focused on art. Glenn D. Lowry, director of MoMA, reflected on the museum’s decade-long collaboration with Uniqlo, which has expanded art access to millions. From “Free Friday Nights” to “Uniqlo Family Days,” the partnership has introduced countless young visitors to the world of modern art. “Together, we transformed programs that brought art to over three million people,” he said.

Adding to the creative momentum was the evening’s surprise reveal with contemporary artist Kaws being named Uniqlo’s first-ever Artist in Residence. Known for turning pop culture into collectible art, Kaws has previously collaborated with Uniqlo on some of its bestselling UT graphic collections. His new role promises fresh LifeWear collaborations, with the first pieces dropping this fall-winter 2025. “I hope to tap into the art community and global creatives to curate the next generation of Uniqlo collaborators,” he shared.

The brand’s evolution continued with British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller. Known for her refined modernity aesthetics and working with luxury design houses, she is now Uniqlo’s creative director. Expanding beyond the Uniqlo:C line she debuted in 2023, Clare will now shape the mainline collections, including menswear. “Working in Japan really puts your mind in a completely different place,” she said. “There’s a real sense of purpose to everything they do, and I believe in that refinement—everything has a reason to be there. Over these past two years, I have been hugely impressed by their innovation and ability to create exceptional products. It is very exciting and an honor for me to be involved in the evolution of LifeWear.”

But the evening’s program wasn’t over, as Clare was joined by two global icons for a panel that blended fashion, lifestyle, and philosophy. Fast Retailing senior executive officer Koji Yanai introduced Uniqlo’s newest brand ambassador, award-winning actress Cate Blanchett. “She embodies our philosophy of creating clothes that are both timely and timeless, sometimes even beyond gender,” he said.

Cate herself reflected on the emotional resonance of style, “Waste is the enemy of creativity. What Uniqlo does so well is create clothes that aren’t disposable—they’re durable, accessible, and emotional. Clothes are receptacles of memory, and what you put close to your skin really has an impact,” she said, recalling the denim jacket her parents gave her at 15, which she still wears. For her, durability and timeless design should not be luxuries but essentials. “It should be available to everyone.”

Another familiar face, retired tennis champion Roger Federer, whom Tadashi described as someone who “always inspired us with his pursuit of excellence.” Roger reminisced on his experience co-designing pieces, “To be part of the Uniqlo family, it’s definitely allowed me to go into the stores and get lost in them.”

For him, Uniqlo reflects not just performance but versatility and ease, qualities he continues to value off the court. “The essentials are truly unmatched. The amount of different types of clothing for warm weather, cold weather, jeans, windbreakers—you name it, they’re absolutely fantastic.”

By the end of the evening, the celebration offered a clear vision of what contemporary fashion can be, which is collaborative, creative, and conscious. From Cate’s timeless elegance and Roger’s quiet sophistication to Clare’s urban sensibility, along with the artistic vision of Kaws and Toray Industries’ material innovations, the night at MoMA demonstrated how style continues to evolve with intention and purpose.