Every Look From UNIQLO : C — Clare Waight Keller's Newly Unveiled Collaboration

Clare Waight Keller, acclaimed for her designs at Givenchy and Chloé, stands as a fashion force with a repertoire of distinguished creations and iconic figures she has outfitted. In 2018 she won Womenswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards. Notably, she also designed Meghan Markle’s royal wedding gown and served as Givenchy’s pioneering female artistic director. Amid the initial Covid wave and global lockdowns, her unexpected departure was announced in April 2020 and has been under the radar ever since. Now, she emerges, channeling her expertise to fashion a novel women's line at UNIQLO.

Dubbed UNIQLO: C, this fresh line introduces Waight Keller’s refined yet adaptable style to the UNIQLO realm, which has also collaborated with luminaries like Jil Sander and JW Anderson. Yukihiro Katsuta, Uniqlo’s head of research and development, who orchestrated the +J partnership with Jil Sander from 2009 to 2011, said this on choosing to approach Waight Keller on this project, "I’ve studied a lot of designers, and what distinguishes Clare is that she makes great clothing with a female essence. I believe her wealth of experience and her designs that fully appreciate the modern woman will usher in a new standard of LifeWear for women."

Unveiling in fall 2023, the launch collection comprises a curated selection of 30 pieces encompassing outerwear, tops, skirts, dresses, and more. Many echo her Givenchy work and the preceding six years of Chloé collections. She articulated, "I aimed to distill the core of my aesthetic—fluidity, motion, femininity—these elements were pivotal. I also sought to infuse my British sensibilities—a touch of boy-meets-girl charm, an element of attitude."

Certainly, Waight Keller's involvement with Uniqlo marks a departure, having rejuvenated Givenchy’s couture atelier during her Paris tenure and commencing her career under Tom Ford at Gucci. Yet, the opportunity to influence a vast global scale bears its unique set of privileges. She shared in an interview with Vogue, “Six entire months were dedicated to perfecting these 30 pieces, from fabric trials to as many as five fittings per item, an unconventional process. Traditionally [at luxury houses], we hurry through two or three fittings before moving on."

This venture beneath UNIQLO's umbrella, arguably her most expansive exposure thus far, particularly in the mass market, allows the designer to transform her past encounters into a fresh yet familiar creation. "The letter C encapsulated much of my vision: urban commuters, city living, a clear palette, and a hint of casual audacity," Waight Keller expressed.

The UNIQLO: C collection will debut on September 15 and will be available at Orchard Central Global Flagship and ION Orchard, and online stores.