23SS UT COLLECTION
We return to the source of the T-shirt
and reflect the current streetwear trend.
UT’s 23SS season is launched with artist Kosuke Kawamura as UNIQLO’s new creative director. From the choice of collaborators to the graphic designs, the cut of the T-shirt, and the fabric, this collection has been compiled with uncompromising attention to detail.
We thoroughly researched the modern street culture, as well as the appeal of the vintage T-shirt, and created this collection by combining elements of all kinds of T-shirts in the style of a Kosuke Kawamura collage.
KOSUKE KAWAMURA
Collage artist / graphic designer / art director
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1979. As a collage artist, Kosuke Kawamura has collaborated with various artists and held both solo and group exhibitions in Japan and internationally. He is also active in many other fields, including creating graphics for clothing brands, designing book covers and advertisements, and providing art direction for CD and DVD jackets.
A T-shirt can reflect an era, a trend, or the thoughts of the person wearing it. Long before social media existed, T-shirts were a canvas on which anyone was free to make a statement. Message T-shirts can be described as the source of graphic T-shirts. We have produced this collection with three contemporary artists, who are leading the art scene in the USA and London. The featured styles are made from thick fabric with a cut that captures the latest trends.
CALI DEWITT
Near Zuma Beach in California, Cali DeWitt describes himself as a “multidimensional being” and says he feels like he will turn 100 years old next year. Active as both an artist and a designer, he has presented his work around the world over the past decade and has also been involved in design work for cultural figures who represent the era.
TREVOR ANDREW
Former professional snowboarder Trevor Andrew is now known as an artist and digital designer whose work features original motifs and monograms. He creates works with a unique style, combining a pop-culture sensibility with skate-culture aesthetics, and is also involved in projects with top platforms and auction houses using NFTs.
LAKWENA
Lakwena means “messenger of the chief” in the Acholi language of northern Uganda. Born in 1986, Lakwena’s name is reflected in her artistic activities, which are focused on messages. Employing vivid colors and bold text, her paintings can be understood as “escape routes and Afrofuturistic portals to utopia.” Currently based in London, Lakwena’s works are exhibited internationally in cities including London, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami.
Skateboard culture has recently attracted more attention worldwide. As well as being skaters, Shinpei Ueno and Alex Olsen are active in many areas, including fashion, design and films, using street culture as a starting point. This collection employs art drawn exclusively for UT and a newly developed T-shirt cut.
ALEX OLSON
Los Angeles-born creator. A professional skateboarder from 2007 to 2021, he is also the founder of two brands, “Bianca Chandon” and “Call Me 917”. Alex recently relocated from New York to Los Angeles, California, out of a desire to be closer to his family and to go surfing at surf spots with lots of people and great waves. As well as his own brands, he is currently involved in collaborative design, meditation workshops, and creating music for various clients.
SHINPEI UENO
As well as overseeing his company, TIGHTBOOTH PRODUCTION, Shinpei skates for Evisen Skateboards as a pro skater. He has released many skateboarding videos, and his major work, “Lenz II,” is highly acclaimed in Japan and internationally. His wide-ranging activities include directing a skate shop and clothing brand, and production work for numerous brands. “Lenz III”, the culmination of the TIGHTBOOTH skate video trilogy, was released worldwide in November 2022.
The essence of a T-shirt is its cut.
We pursue perfection down to the millimeter.
In addition to the basic UT cut, we have newly developed an oversized cut that embodies street culture. The drop of the shoulders, the width of the armholes, the rib width on the cuffs—all have been optimally designed down to the millimeter. Try it on and experience our pursuit of perfection for yourself.
OUR NEWLY DEVELOPED CUT IS RUGGED AND CASUAL
DROPPED SHOULDERS GIVE A CASUAL LOOK
We have lowered the position of the shoulders and widened the fit around the arms to create a streetwear-style cut.
LOOSE, OVERSIZED BODY WIDTH
We have made the body wider than the regular fit to create a casual look that shows off a bold graphic design.
THICK FABRIC LOOKS GREAT WORN ON ITS OWN
We have used a thick, sturdy fabric, so the T-shirt is opaque, and the cut looks great when worn on its own.