Uniqlo has appointed Clare Waight Keller as their new creative director, bolstering their design team with her extensive experience.
- Waight Keller’s career highlights include leading roles at Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy, underscoring her design prowess.
- Her work on Uniqlo: C since 2023 has garnered positive reception, leading to her expanded responsibilities.
- Waight Keller will now oversee both the womenswear and menswear collections from autumn/winter 2024.
- Fast Retailing executives express confidence in her ability to enhance Uniqlo LifeWear, reflecting consumer-centric design.
Japanese retail giant Uniqlo has named British designer Clare Waight Keller as its new creative director. This significant appointment is anticipated to reinforce Uniqlo’s design ethos, given her renowned expertise and previous leadership roles at prestigious fashion houses such as Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy. Her reputation was notably cemented when she designed the wedding dress for Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
Waight Keller began her association with Uniqlo in September 2023, focusing initially on the Uniqlo: C womenswear line. Her impressive work has now extended to include oversight of the mainline collection, which encompasses both womenswear and menswear, commencing with the autumn/winter 2024 season.
Tadashi Yanai, chairman, president, and CEO of Fast Retailing—Uniqlo’s parent company—expressed his enthusiasm for Waight Keller’s appointment, highlighting her exceptional creativity and ability to maintain a consumer-focused approach. According to Yanai, her involvement is expected to evolve the company’s LifeWear concept into a richer offering that aligns closely with customer desires.
Yukihiro Katsuta, Fast Retailing group senior executive officer and head of R&D for Uniqlo, praised Waight Keller’s unique ability to balance creativity and commercial viability, citing her past contributions to Uniqlo: C as evidence of her caliber. He believes her strong aesthetic sense and strategic insight will be instrumental in broadening Uniqlo’s LifeWear appeal.
Waight Keller herself has spoken of the opportunity with Uniqlo as a notable and exciting stage in her career. She has commended the brand’s innovative spirit and product excellence, and expressed her excitement about contributing to the future of LifeWear, marking this role as a significant evolution in her professional journey.
Clare Waight Keller’s appointment heralds a new chapter for Uniqlo, promising innovative and consumer-focused design enhancements.
