Uniqlo reimagines returned clothing in scalable upcycling initiative
Uniqlo is launching a scalable upcycled collection called Everyday Re.Imagined, created from returned items designed in collaboration with graduates from the BA Fashion course at Central Saint Martins.
The 10-piece upcycled collection will be available from tomorrow, 25 June, exclusively in-store across 15 Re.Uniqlo Studios in the UK and Europe.
Each piece in the collection is made from returned Uniqlo garments that may have been damaged or imperfect.
The pieces are upcycled, repaired and creatively reconstructed by seamstresses working for Re.Uniqlo Studios, using template designs created by graduates of the Central Saint Martins (CSM) BA Fashion course.
The very first Re.Uniqlo Studio opened in the Regent Street store in 2022, offering in-store repair, remake and personalisation services. Today, the studio is available in more than 70 stores across 23 markets.
In the new collection, classic pieces such as AIRism T-shirts are reshaped, while trousers and cotton fabrics are reworked, with careful attention to ensuring that each piece retains the character of the original garment while breathing new life into the design.
The upcycled collection builds on Uniqlo's longstanding partnership with CSM, which the retailer said provides valuable insights into new approaches to circular design.
That means that while no two designs will be exactly alike, the garments all follow the same blueprint construction.
Each piece is designed to be crafted in under an hour in order to keep it affordable while also ensuring that the collection is scalable, with prices ranging from £29.90 to £89.90.
At an event on Tuesday, Uniqlo Europe Head of Sustainability Maria Samoto le Dous noted that the upcycled collection is not a trial project, but forms part of Uniqlo's long-term sustainability strategy.
She added that the collection had been designed with scalability in mind and could potentially be expanded into additional markets in the future, with designs possibly evolving seasonally.
"Collaborating with Central Saint Martins and its incredibly talented emerging designers has been both inspiring and energising," noted le Dous.
"This project shows that innovation in fashion doesn't always begin with something new, but with a new way of seeing what already exists.
"By combining their creative perspective with our LifeWear philosophy, we demonstrate how everyday clothing can be continuously reimagined, extending not only its lifecycle but also its meaning."
Sarah Gresty, Course Leader, BA Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, added: "The most exciting ideas in fashion often begin by looking at something familiar in a completely different way.
"Through this collaboration, our graduates have transformed everyday garments into pieces that are inventive, thoughtful and full of possibility. It shows how creativity and experimentation can breathe new life into existing materials, challenging us to rethink the value and potential of the clothes we wear every day."
In the UK, the upcycled collection will be available in London at Uniqlo's 311 Oxford Street, Regent Street, Covent Garden and Coal Drops Yard stores. In Edinburgh, it will be available at the Princes Street store.
