Uniqlo UT Project

[onemancult]

From Hypebeast:

"The origins of the t-shirt are sketchy at best, but regardless there aren’t many pieces of clothing that have the ability to transcend economic barriers and make themselves available to all social classes, be at the focal point of slogans and messages, and perhaps most important keep you comfortably and cool whenever you throw one on. Japanese brand for the masses, Uniqlo recognize the importance of t-shirts and have based their latest “UT Project” behind this notion. The UT Project (UT refers to Uniqlo T-shirt) will fashion itself as a new concept store that will revolutionize itself as a way to buy t-shirts for the future, and at the bottom of all this is creator Kashiwa Sato. Each t-shirt will be housed in a transparent cannister (think tennis ball cannisters) each displayed along numerous shelves. 5000 square feet over 4 floors (1 being a gallery floor) will be dedicated solely to one of the most basic of basics in everybody’s wardrobe. When you step foot into the UT Project, you are effectively stepping foot in what can only be described as a temple of t-shirts.

But what is a grand opening without special goodies? Uniqlo has assembled an all-star cast of designers that include Terry Richardson, Nobuyoshi Araki, Kai Khüne, Bjorn Copeland of Black Dice, Kim Jones, Peter Saville, Gareth Pugh, Solve Sundsbo and many more to create some special grand opening tee’s. As many as 1000 different designs are expected to roll in and out of the UT Project. The t-shirt does not discriminate and in doing so, Uniqlo has made note of it to ask the services of designers from all facets and walks of life to create t-shirts that will cater to the self-expression and individuality of all it’s customers. Many of the tee’s featured through UT Project have all become available at Uniqlo stores worldwide.

If all this information is overwhelming, it doesn’t stop there. Famed photographer Terry Richardson has been called upon to document a series of photo’s of personalities wearing their favorite Uniqlo shirts. These personalities include model Missy Rayder, actor Michael Pitt, musician Alison Mosshart, and Japanese photographer Keiichi Nitta as well as some up and coming artists from the New York area. Ironically these artists were scouted through what some call one of the truest forms of expression, MySpace. These assortment of photo’s will be forever captured in print through the release of a limited edition hard cover book to be sold throughout Uniqlo’s starting in mid-May.

With the Japanese so keen on selling many different products through vending machines, perhaps in the near future Uniqlo tee’s will be available for purchase through vending machines in the near future."

A. if they don't bring some of the tees, at the very least, to the US, i will actually go on a killing spree inside of Uniqlo.

B. this is really, really fucking cool.

C. ut.uniqlo.com

[theshonen8899]

That's cute, Japan loves it when everythings neat and small.

[domdomdomdom]

sounds really cool, ill definately be looking to check this out when i head to NYC

[LanceP]

I saw this earlier. Any info on when this hits the NYC Soho location, please post up. Very interesting project, for sure.

[Tyro1]

cool website, pity you cant view the t-shirts outside of the "slot machine", I guess because it's a preview.

Looking forward to seeing some of the designs.

[fg0d]

Looks really promising. Any release dates info? Is it gonna reach US?

[polishmike]

There are a bunch of new t-shirts on the uniqlo us website but none of the look like these. I already got a bunch of the graphic t-shirts when uniqlo first opened and I have so many I've been wearing them as undershirts. I still wouldn't mind getting few of the new designs. I'll go to the nyc store on Friday and report back.

[Crillz]

OMC, if Uniqlo doesn't bring that shit here ASAP I will be more than happy to accompany you on the warpath through Prince st.

[Icarus]

Bjorn Copeland? I am creaming my pants. Kinda'. They're shorts.

[kauflust]

uniqlo, please come to the midwest.

[guffer]

i imagine new york will get them. we have a few in the UK already with more to come over the summer apparently. email them, they are a pretty helpful bunch in my experience

[RAISED BY WOLVES]

Uniqlo's web games gets the Sack lunch from Wolves.....

Seizure status.

[un-]

I wish they had a uniqlo in Houston...

[TReed]

I have a few of the UT t's that are already out in Japan that are nice

Hopefully they release some good shit

The UT website really sucks

[onemancult]

The Japonaise listened to my wishes:

"Don’t be disappointed if you’re not in Harajuku, Tokyo, the t-shirts will be available at the UT store and UNIQLO stores worldwide with nearly 100 new styles being introduced to the New York global flagship store each month."

Yes. Now, sell the book here too, and I will be happy.

[verb]

I like it when a webpage switches up the position of its content 100% every 15 seconds or so. THAT is good design.

[weirdnjfan1]

100 new styles being introduced to the New York global flagship store each month."

Yes. Now, sell the book here too, and I will be happy.

Does this mean that the satellite stores in NJ will get them a few weeks later or will we be getting shafted?

[youngace]

uniqlo, please come to the midwest.

pretty please w/ sugar on top...

[Servo2000]

Does this mean that the satellite stores in NJ will get them a few weeks later or will we be getting shafted?

If they're not, suck it up, bitches. At least you HAVE a UNIQLO.

[arthur]

uhh i'm not sure if it really was the uniqlo UT stuff, but from what i saw today (the supposed release date) there was almost nothing new (lots and lots of rehashed designs from when uniqlo soho first opened). what was new sucked, so i shouldn't even mention it.

it didn't even come in those weird containers.

again, i could be wrong, but according to the uniqlo catalog that they were giving out, that was the UT stuff.

maybe it'll improve? :confused:

[mlproject]

most of the stuff that soho has now is the same as last season.

they better get those terry tees in. holy reseller, batman!

[herpsky]

you guys overglorify uniqlo

[onemancult]

you guys overglorify uniqlo

i personally think this is impossible.

their denim really is amazing for the price, and their basics are excellent.

similar to any other large retailer, not every item is a hit with every demographic- they need to cover a wide range of bases. from what i've heard from athletes, their sportswear items perform just as good as higher end items without costing as much.

their dressier items seem nice, and are of good quality.

i really can't find anything negative about the store, except that their stock doesnt seem to rotate as quickly as one would expect.

[mlproject]

the one negative thing i have to say about uniqlo is that their stock sucks. they rarely have a full size range and typically only have XXL and larger or just small in a lot of stuff.

[Icarus]

They didn't have any goddamn black crewnecks.

[maxamillion]

Here some images of the actual store...

http://www.highsnobiety.com/home/the_daily_news/archive/2007/april/29/uniqlo_tee_store/browse/2/index.htm?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=27&cHash=be366bfb80

pretty impressive!

[weirdnjfan1]

Oh man, that's just awesome. I think that they should set up one of those in NYC somewhere and let it be opened 24/7. Although that may not a good idea.

[sphoxx]

Blowin up numan's spot; up in that terry richarson business.

ps. know sarah man?

[onemancult]

Blowin up numan's spot; up in that terry richarson business.

ps. know sarah man?

i am laughing so hard right now.

[bph]

seriously ridiculous...

i know like 3-4 of the people modeling the shirts in the catalog.

where the hell did they cast for that?