Alexander Wang (Photo: REUTERS/Eric Gaillard)
Fresh off its successful collaboration with J W Anderson, Uniqlo is partnering with the king of athleisure, Alexander Wang, for an exclusive collection of underwear in its Heattech fabric. Come November 9, Wang will be introducing bodysuits, tees, leggings, bras and briefs for both men and women in a range of neutral colours and — for an element of surprise — a dash of Wang’s favourite neon green. Everything is priced between US$15 and $40.
“We thought this could be a great concept where we think about how to marry the two ideas: Heattech and underwear,” the streetwise Taiwanese-American fashion designer told Vogue. “Heattech is a program created out of innovation, function, and utility. It’s something that I’ve always been very inspired by, by the advancement and innovation in fabrication. I wanted to think about it in a way where even if it wasn’t just worn on the inside — if you wore it as a top as something to lounge around in — you feel like there’s a style, an aesthetic that could stand on its own.”
Avid followers of Wang would have noticed that this is not his first collaboration with the Japanese mega-retailer. A decade ago, right after he started his namesake brand, he worked on a selection of ready-to-wear with Uniqlo. The opportunity to explore something more basic this time around, which still demonstrates functionality, utilitarianism and style, inspired the designer to collaborate with Uniqlo again.
"The thing that I love about these pieces is that they can really be worn on so many different occasions," he said. "Wear the bra top with a high-waisted jean and a denim jacket... or maybe just the bra on its own?"
Indeed, why not?
