BALLOONS, suits, and pajamas sounds like the brief for a whimsical party, but it is these concepts that anchor luxury Italian brand Marni’s collaboration with Asian fast fashion giant Uniqlo.
Founded in the 1990s, Marni was acquired by the OTB Group in 2015, making it a sister brand of Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni, Viktor&Rolf, and Jil Sander.
This is Uniqlo’s first collaboration with Marni, though the Asian brand has collaborated with several big names in the past. This illustrious list includes Jil Sander (the person, not the brand), JW Anderson, and Ines de la Fressange.
In a statement, Fast Retailing Group Senior Executive Officer and Head of R&D for Uniqlo Yukihiro Katsuta commented on why this relationship with Marni makes sense. “The Uniqlo philosophy of clothing that is simple, high quality, functional, and ingenious in detail, imbued with Marni’s creative vitality, has produced bold and innovative LifeWear. I am extremely pleased that we are able to offer this essential LifeWear collection that accentuates individual character and feelings in a positive way.”
Media guests viewed the collection on May 26, a day in advance of its official release in the Philippines at the Uniqlo Philippines flagship store in Glorietta.
Our attention was drawn to tailored jackets in olive green and cornflower blue; but then the “pajamas” were also interesting as well. Tiptoeing the line between dressy and casual, the windowpane pattern in satin or relaxed cotton can either look like flannel or tweed depending on how one styles it.
Playing with lines seems to be a theme in the collection, seen in striped T-shirts, gingham jackets, and checked shirts and jackets. These can be boldly paired with floral pieces that form the Balloons line. These are flowy and relaxed pieces made with stylized flowers that might remind one of Hawaiian shirts. The clothes collectively have a boxy and loose feel, falling just so on the body.
“Marni is about colors and prints, and always has been. For this collection, we wanted to inject our floral prints with a slight nostalgia and our signature ginghams with an artistic flair, transposing Marni’s creative energy in brush-stroked lines,” said Marni’s Creative Director Francesco Risso in an interview with Uniqlo posted on their website. “Prints punctuate the range, connecting the collection chromatically in a mix of textures and monochromes,” said Mr. Risso.
“I really hope that they feel good, that they feel like themselves, that they feel free, and that they live their best summer in these clothes!,” he said.
The collection is available online and in select Uniqlo stores. — J.L. Garcia