Uniqlo links again with Tate Modern gallery, launches UT collection

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Jun 23, 2021

Reinforcing its commitment “to make art accessible to all”, Japanese apparel retail giant Uniqlo has announced a new three-year global collaboration with London's Tate Modern gallery.

Building on the success of the initial partnership with the gallery, which began in 2016 under the ‘Uniqlo Tate Lates’ banner that featured a series of special late-night events, the renewed programme now aims to “engage families through art-inspired activities”. 

The collaboration, which coincides with the Uniqlo brand’s 20th anniversary since launching in the UK, begins on 24 July.

It will see Tate Modern's Turbine Hall transformed into a space where children and adults of all ages “can learn and grow to appreciate art together, through a spectacular installation that mixes art with play”.

It also realises the joint development of the first UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) collection based on original designs inspired by Tate and planned for launch worldwide next year.

The company said: “Uniqlo UT has grown to offer an array of authentic pop culture and art graphics from across the world. Today more than ever UT serves to express individuality, while keeping with the product brand slogan of 'Wear Your World' creating a total of 1,000 different designs and patterns annually".

Tadashi Yanai, CEO of parent company Fast Retailing, added: "The renewed collaboration with Tate Modern is based on a shared philosophy of ‘Made for All’, a concept reflected in LifeWear, which is clothing designed to help make everyone's daily life better, and in giving everyone access to the joy of art. I hope many families will participate in the new Uniqlo Tate Play programme”.