Jil Sander and UNIQLO Welcomes Spring with their Spring 2021 +J. UNIQLO’s most coveted collaborative line is back with a light and breezy collection for sunnier days.
With the success of its revival late of last year, UNIQLO’s +J is coming back with a Spring/Summer 2021 collection. In this sophomore collection, the two meld minds to create a lineup of pieces that represent the bright energy of spring. Like its predecessor, the collection still features Sander’s signature simple elegance in every piece although this time with a more lighthearted touch.
The idea of creating a modern uniform where everyone has the chance to dress in the smart Sander-esque way within a more affordable price range stays the same, but this time around, you’ll be able to find more casual pieces like oversized tees and well-tailored shorts instead of heavy coats and knitwear. The collection features an airy palette of whites, light greys, and even a pop of lilac in a few pieces. These colors were curated carefully based on the hues of the Northern lights. Fittingly, this collection aims to bid farewell to the dark cold winter and celebrate the light cheery spring coming upon us.
Image courtesy of UNIQLO.
“In the +J 2021 Spring & Summer collection, I am aiming for quiet optimism. The colors are beautiful but understated, classy, and of great clarity. I continue to look for quality, also in textile innovation. The overall idea is sophistication, a kind of purity that lets us think of regeneration and a fresh start,” says Jil Sander in her interview with UNIQLO’s LifeWear magazine.
One of the highlights of the collection are the Selvedge jeans lineup that are available for both women and men. Unlike the usual pair of denim, Selvedge jeans are more tightly woven, with a band on each edge of the denim fabric, giving it a more refined look. In terms of production, Selvedge denim is manufactured using shuttle looms, creating a softer more comfortable texture to the fabric while also adding more character. Thanks to this process, these types of denims are also known to fade better due to how there’s less tension on the yarn of the denim.
UNIQLO +J Spring 2021 Preview at Art:1 New Museum. Image courtesy of UNIQLO.
“It’s a product we believe in, that belongs to our vision of long-lasting quality, careful details, and craftsmanship,” says Sander, “Selvedge jeans, if all the details are right, can be collector’s pieces.”
Asides from the denim, the casual womenswear pieces made out of silk blend are also ones to keep your eye on. This season’s silk-blend comes in a darker shade of cool gray that looks as sleek as it is futuristic. The silk blend half-sleeved dresses and flared skirt are great examples of items casual enough to wear day-to-day, yet luxurious-looking enough to wear on formal occasions.
Image courtesy of UNIQLO.
The pieces that also come in lilac are also stand-outs from the collection. The selection of lilac-tinted pieces could be the most popular amongst younger audiences, with the color having a resurgence in fashion trends recently. Although most people translate the ‘minimalist’ aesthetic with monochromatic colors, the shades of lilac found in this collection fit right in, see the men’s oversized long coat that comes in a lux shade of greyish lilac for example.
The Uniqlo +J Spring/Summer 2021 will be available in-stores from the 19th of March. (Text Vanya Harapan)