Uniqlo has been invading the UK with a plain and simple approach to menswear since 2007. For two of those years it tapped former Lacoste and Hermès artistic director Christophe Lemaire for a capsule collection that expertly paired high street prices with luxury design. After back-to-back successes it made sense for the Japanese retailer to coax the cool French designer in-house as artistic director, leading Uniqlo’s global design team in reinventing basics to be anything but. Now the first results of the permanent partnership have been revealed in the form of the new Uniqlo U line. Judging by the preview, Lemaire has stuck to his pared-back, minimalist approach, favouring an unstructured, muted colour-block vibe. Uniqlo also said the range is in-keeping with its ‘LifeWear’ philosophy of providing comfortable clothing for all lifestyles. So not doubt we can expect a line-up of knitwear, shirts, coats, trousers and joggers when the collection drops later this year. Uniqlo and Lemaire will be available in stores and online from autumn, prices tbc. 
A First Look At Christophe Lemaire’s Uniqlo U Collection
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. Any products or services put forward appear in no particular order. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
As FashionBeans deputy editor, Luke Todd is tasked with filtering through the latest from the worlds of fashion, grooming, fitness, technology and lifestyle to deliver an indispensable edit of the most stylish stuff. Along with working on the site since 2009, he has written for leading titles such as ShortList, Drapers and GQ Style Germany and has consulted for brands including Bulldog Skincare and James Harknett.
