You adored his novels about love, loss, and dreams. Now, get set to wear those emotions on your sleeves — literally — as UNIQLO partners with popular Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami for their latest UT collection.
The upcoming collection features UNIQLO UT shirts inspired by Murakami’s novels and Murakami Radio, a radio show spearheaded by the writer during the lockdown.
Drawn by Japanese illustrator Maki Sasaki, the shirt’s designs include quotes and key events from some of Murakami’s best-selling works: “Dance Dance Dance,” “IQ84,” “Kafka on the Shore,” “Norwegian Wood,” and “Pinball 1973,” and “Sputnik Sweetheart.” The resident cat of Murakami’s Radio show also earns its own shirt design.
Aside from the tops, the collection also includes sticker sets and enamel pins featuring imagery from Dance Dance Dance, Murakami Radio-inspired animals at work, and the Sheep Man from Murakami’s “The Strange Library.”
A collaboration between Murakami and UNIQLO could not be more apt, as the novelist also embraces the LifeWear brand’s principle of simplicity and comfort.
While speaking with UNIQLO regarding style, Murakami shares that being stylish means being able to “make everyday clothes look comfortable.” He believes that “the simpler [his clothes are], the better,” which explains why he’s hardly impressed “when people dress head to toe in brands, or let their clothes dictate their style.”
The UNIQLO UT Haruki Murakami collection will be available on UNIQLO’s website and at UNIQLO branches nationwide starting March 22.
(all images by UNIQLO)
