UNIQLO is hitting its 40th year and turning back the clock in the process. The brand plans to reintroduce some of its most talked-about collaborations—Jil Sander’s beloved +J, the first-ever line with Lemaire that rolled out in 2015, and the cult hits from Engineered Garments. This drop is about stepping into the past without losing the beat of today.
Lemaire’s earliest run with the retailer gave us lambswool pullovers that never felt dated. They are back. Engineered Garments returns, too, with those fleece layers so many have tried to track down secondhand. Jil Sander’s +J collection—once a radical step for a mass-market label—is taking its final bow again with crisp shirts and jackets that defined a new era of accessible style.
It is hardly the first time UNIQLO has revisited its heritage. The name itself started out in Hiroshima back in 1984, known then as Unique Clothing Warehouse, and soon became a global presence. It took cues from classic American stores but shaped them into something new. Today it is just as dedicated to its original mission—straightforward clothes that fit into any closet—while pushing into bigger markets and playing with digital shopping experiences. They have also expanded Re.UNIQLO, a project that collects, recycles, and repairs garments, echoing the brand’s commitment to modern sustainability practices.
This revival will be a local affair. The pieces land in Japan only, hitting stores in December for Lemaire and Engineered Garments, and January for +J. Expect fans to line up. Some are shopping memories. Others are just discovering the hype.
