Fans of KAWS, you have our permission to flip out. UNIQLO just announced a collaboration line for UT (UNIQLO T-shirts) with KAWS!
Since its launch in 2003, UT has featured an array of pop culture graphics in such collaborations as SPRZ NY and the Shochiku Kabuki series. The new KAWS collection celebrates UT’s fusion of fashion with authentic pop culture.
KAWS is a renowned artist who cuts his creative teeth on the streets of New York, his subversive images winning him considerable notoriety. Within the pop art tradition, he has created a prolific body of influential work, which both engages young people with contemporary art and straddles the worlds of art and design to include street art, graphic and product design, paintings, murals and large-scale sculptures.
Considered as one of the most relevant artists of his generation, he developed his visual vocabulary conceiving his soft skull with crossbones and crossed-out eyes, which would become a signature gesture.
Today, some of the world’s most renowned museums and galleries collect and exhibit his critically acclaimed artwork.
Commenting on the new collaboration, KAWS said, “I have always enjoyed working in different medium, whether it be plastic toys, painting, bronze sculpture, or graphic design. UT is a cool canvas for making my artwork available to people virtually everywhere. I have enjoyed working with the UNIQLO team whose enthusiasm is unparalleled. It is great to be part of the amazing UT platform of my friend and fellow artist NIGO.”
UT Creative Director NIGO (of “Teriyaki Boyz” and A Bathing Ape fame) said, “KAWS has been a friend of mine for more than 20 years, and I’m very happy to collaborate with him for our 2016 UT items. I’m certain that the collection will be a hit around the world.”
“I’ve created things with KAWS quite a few times before, and we’ve got a lot of respect for each other. This project was no exception. We went through a ton of ideas to come up with some great results. I think the T-shirts and other items in the collection reflect KAWS’ amazing worldview,” he added.
UT KAWS comprises of 20 items in 25 patterns, including T-shirts, tote bags, and room shoes. Check out the Uniqlo and KAWS collaboration below:
UT KAWS will be sold at all Uniqlo stores in Japan and online on 25th April 2016. The collection will be available in Malaysia on 9th May 2016.
For more information, visit Uniqlo’s website.
