Uniqlo: The Future of Tee

Uniqlo's Futuristic Storefront

If you are still buying a the of overpriced GAP/Banana Republic/Padini (yes Padini is definitely overpriced) shirt or T-Shirt, or whatsoever products, forget about it, you are so ripped off. Savesome of you money, visit Uniqlo in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, UK, even US (fyi, its Flagship store is located in New York’s Soho which is near the famous Broadway and Fifth Avenue. Some of you may not know that Uniqlo is actually the biggest casual wear chain in Japan.

A t-shirt is never just a t-shirt when UNIQLO is involved. Uniqlo launched its UT Project approximately 6 months ago, and the man behind the project was Kashiwa Sato Creative Director of Uniqlo. The first UT store was opened in Harajuku with the aim of bringing more than 1,000 designs per year.

Their concept is quite cool, each t-shirt style will be displayed on forms in stainless steel display cases, with the individual t-shirts packaged in clear plastic canisters resembling tennis ball cans. The t-shirts will be stored on open shelves, making the shopping experience truly unique and virtually self-service. Customers can just walk into the store, browse and choose their favorite designs, retrieve it from the vending machine like shelf (Japanese really like vending machines) and pay for it at the cashiers. With more than 5,000 square feet of selling space spread out over three floors and a fourth floor gallery space, the UT store will in essence serve as a shrine to this fundamental and favorite article of clothing.

"Give me a can of Asahi Beer"

"My owner kicks me out of the house!"

In celebration of the opening of the UT store, UNIQLO has launched the UT Project, a limited-edition collection of t-shirts designed by renowned artists, designers, photographers and musicians including Terry Richardson, Nobuyoshi Araki, Kai Khüne, Bjorn Copeland of Black Dice, Kim Jones, Peter Saville, Gareth Pugh, Solve Sundsbo, ECM Records, and many more. Wow, that sounds expensive. Wrong, each T-shirt costs less than RM45.00, yes less than RM45.00. I bought a few several months back.

Some of Terry Richardson's designs and the punk belowis Terry Richardson

In fact all Uniqlo’s products are selling at really affordable price, yet they don’t give you shitty designs. Check out www.uniqlo.com and you know I’m not bullshitting you. I got a pinstriped jacket at the price of RM135 (Normal Price).

So, the government should include this in the Ninth Malaysia Plan: Bring Uniqlo in and s othat we don't get ripped off! Eh, maybe no la after that shirt all got bocor and got holes one...

Happy 50th Brithday!