Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Clothes for your so-cold life


TV host and sports personality Chris Tiu in his favorite Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Vest. Photo by Rhoy Cobilla, InterAksyon.com.
The cool winds might be felt only by September but this month’s monsoon rains is having us reach for a jacket to keep warm and toasty.
But do those jackets need to be thermal and fluffed up to keep our bodies extra warm? In the Philippines? Well, Uniqlo seems to think so as it recently showcased its Fall/Winter 2012 collection, which is headlined by Heatteach, Knitwear, Poncho, Stretch jeans, among others.
Cozy knitwear are among the store's new arrivals. Photo by Rhoy Cobilla, InterAksyon.com.
“We are highlighting the items that are innovative especially the changes in lifestyle in Japan, and other winter countries,” Joanne Torres, Management Trainee/Inventory Control of Uniqlo begins. “Like the knitwear, we call it the merino, it’s thinner compared to the regular wool, but it’s also warm.”
“We are also introducing the Ultra Light Down jacket, the heat tech, and the thermal wear,” Joanne says. These items are most useful not only during the cold weather but also for traveling in cold-climate countries.
Uniqlo's Ultra Light jackets. Photo by Rhoy Cobilla, InterAksyon.com.
The Ultra Light Down jacket or the ULD is made from nylon and is 20% lighter than the regular down jacket. In fact it only weighs about 260 grams. “The ultra down jacket is thinner than the regular down jacket, that is why it’s also applicable for countries, like the Philippines, that do not have winter or fall,” Janet shares.
Chris Tiu whose fashion style is mostly sporty and preppy is a fan of the Ultra Light Down jacket. “Its something that we might not be used to here in the Philippines but I travel a lot and the best thing about this, is it looks bulky, but its actually not. It is easy to wear and bring around especially of you travel a lot. You can pack it in your bag, and it’s not going to use up all the space, and the weight allocation in the airlines.”
Uniqlo Undercover
“Uniqlo undercover is collaboration between Uniqlo and the brand Undercover, which is trendier and more stylish than Uniqlo,” says Katsumi Kubota, COO for Uniqlo, Fast Retailing Philippines.
Think of clothes meant for the modern, edgy, and stylish family—from Dad, Mom, to the kids. Cold season basics include knitwear, and shirts and trousers in solid colors. Some pieces also feature your favorite cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Barbie, Hello Kitty and more. “Mainly we are working with cartoon characters on our t-shirts, and from time to time we try to catch what the customers or the market requires.  We constantly change every year. Its a mix of western and Japanese characters, we always try to mix it,” says Katsumi.
At the well-attended Uniqlo fashion show's finale held Wednesday, August 22, Parokya ni Edgar lead singer Chito Miranda (in red vest) and Chris Tiu are joined by Uniqlo Philippines' COO Katsumi Kubota. Photo by Rhoy Cobilla, InterAksyon.com.

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