Uniqlo appoints Clare Waight Keller as creative director

Fast Retailing’s Uniqlo has appointed Clare Waight Keller as its creative director.

Renowned for her design sensibilities, Waight Keller brings a wealth of experience garnered from the helm of esteemed fashion houses to this new role.

Notably, Clare Waight Keller made history as Givenchy’s first female artistic director, a position she assumed in March 2017, succeeding Riccardo Tisci. Prior to her tenure at Givenchy, she brought commercial success to Chloé as its creative director.

“Along with her exceptional originality and wide-ranging experience, I have been impressed by her excellent sense of balance, which never forgets the perspective of the consumer,” said Tadashi Yanai, Fast Retailing chairman, president and CEO.

“I believe that with her, we will be able to evolve LifeWear, the ultimate everyday wear, into something even richer and create clothes that will make our customers even happier.”

Waight Keller began working with Uniqlo in 2023, designing the Uniqlo:C womenswear project.

While Uniqlo pricing is far more affordable than the luxury houses Waight Keller has previously steered, the Japanese mass retailer has worked with Waight Keller’s peers for years, enlisting the likes of Jil Sander, Christopher Lemaire and Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson to develop capsule collections for the brand.

“Clare Waight Keller’s work with Uniqlo:C has convinced me that she is one of the few creators in the world able to achieve a high level of balance between creation and merchandising,” said Yukihiro Katsuta, Fast Retailing Group senior executive officer and head of R&D.

Said Waight Keller: “Working with UNIQLO over these past two years, I have been hugely impressed by their innovation and ability to create exceptional products. Working with the team, I became deeply immersed in the brand and the future they are creating. It is very exciting and an honour for me to be involved in the evolution of LifeWear.”