What’s this? We’re already in the third quarter of the year? You know what that means: The end-of-year holidays are almost upon us! With the holiday season soon to be knocking on our doors, a wardrobe update suited for the occasion is a must, so look no further than the brand behind Singapore’s unofficial uniform, UNIQLO!
I’ll be taking you through UNIQLO’s recently unveiled Fall/Winter 2024 LifeWear lineup, a lineup that entices everyone to fill up their closet for the holidays! This season, the theme is “Timeless Tones”, a showcase of classic styles blending with modern designs which will transform your fashion game.
Now I won’t say I’m the biggest shopping enabler, but don’t blame me if you come out of this article ready to wield your wallet at your nearest UNIQLO outlet! From improved functionality and materials to all-new tones, come along with me as I take you through the collection’s palette where every piece will aid in redefining your wardrobe for the colder months ahead!
Neo-tradition
What better way to start off UNIQLO’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection than the Neo-tradition showcase? In politics and sociology, neotraditionalism refers to the application of old practices and institutions modified to fit in with the modern context.
Here, as inspired by the historic University of Edinburgh’s unique blend of architectural styles, neotraditionalism can be found in how traditional and new styling inspirations intersect in the pieces.
From the looks to the materials to the silhouettes, blending can be found in how tailored meets casual, summer transitions to autumn, and cool fresh colours are layered with denim, sweats, flannels, wet weather gear, and knitwear.
I probably got some eyebrows raised over just the mere mention of materials and pieces like knitwear and sweats. After all, in this Singapore weather?! It may seem like these pieces may be a one-and-done kind of situation where you can only use them in colder climates, but rest assured that they can become rotational wear!
Take the Extra Fine Merino Crew Neck Long Sleeve Sweater found in the men’s section for example. For this collection, a new colour has been added to this sweater. Just from touching the material, I could already picture this sweater hugging one’s frame nicely and keeping you in a gentle, warm embrace.
Wool may sound like a nightmare in the Singapore weather context, but this is extra-fine Merino wool we are talking about, known for its fineness and softness. This smooth and glossy sweater has also been updated with a finer knit for the perfect texture and thickness, so despite it being a long sleeve and its wool material, any potential to melt into a puddle under Singapore’s sweltering heat will be prevented.
Other comfortable pieces to consider for keeping you toasty during winter vacations include the Light Souffle Yarn V Neck Short Cardigan found in the women’s section. Soft, smooth, and non-itchy, this cardigan is perfect for layering and gives you a relaxed silhouette that can be worn on any occasion.
While the clothes have been divided into the men’s and women’s sections, I will say that most of the clothes are pretty genderless so don’t be afraid to mix and match the pieces to tailor them to your style as every piece is made for layering to your heart’s desire!
But if you’re still cautious about the potential of these apparel leaving you a sweaty mess, you can always count on UNIQLO to add new bra tops for your choosing! Some of UNIQLO’s fan-favourite bra tops have just been given splashes of new colours, including the American Sleeve Cropped Bra Ringer Top, the American Sleeve Cropped Bra Sleeveless Top, and the AIRism Cotton Henley Cropped Bra Sleeveless Top.
Of the three, one bra top I would like to highlight is the AIRism Cotton Henley Cropped Bra Sleeveless Top, of which I know that just hearing the word “AIRism” will make any Singaporean’s heart sing! The ‘AIRism’ material of this bra top which now has a new orange shade, also aids moisture-wicking and stretch functions, so never worry about sweat stains even on a sunny day.
As Henley shirts are widely considered casual attire, the AIRism Cotton Henley Cropped Bra Sleeveless Top’s Henley neck can be your go-to whenever you want to piece together a casual look.
Neo-nordic
When the fall season fades, we move upwards from Edinburgh to Stockholm, where winters are long and cold. Drawing inspiration from the Scandinavian concept of “Hygge” which describes a cosy, contented mood elicited by comfort and conviviality, the Neo-nordic showcase is exactly what it sounds like.
With the Neo-nordic showcase featuring elements of Stockholm and a wintry forest showcasing outdoor to indoor transitional styling, think smart casual city-chic, warm neutrals with classic tones, relaxed and sophisticated silhouettes, and seamless outdoor layering options.
If you’ve been loving UNIQLO’s geared shorts, then I hope you’re jumping for joy as UNIQLO now has Geared Pants too! UNIQLO’s geared shorts have long been a staple in many Singaporean males’ closets, but now we have a longer version if you want to switch things up but still keep to something familiar.
Made using a casual fabric with 2-way stretch, these Geared Pants have meticulous belt buckle detail and a six-pocket design so to anyone who has bemoaned the severe lack of pockets in fashion, this one’s for you!
And beyond its impressive number of pockets, it also has a water-repellent finish, which means you can don it outdoors, but note that this finish is not permanent.
Other apparel more suited for when the weather outside becomes more frightful includes the PUFFTECH Parka, which has high-performance padding made with hollow yarn that traps for more warmth. But even if you aren’t freezing in cold conditions, the PUFFTECH Parka still proves useful no matter the weather, with its special double-weave fabric that not only keeps the padding in place but also blocks out wind and light rain!
Now, if the PUFFTECH Parka isn’t enough for you, then another parka you can consider is the Seamless Down Parka, which will be coming to UNIQLO stores in mid-September! Windproof, durable, water-repellent, and high-performance down with premium down of a fill power of 750+, what more can you ask for in a parka?
Just when you think it’s all too good to be true, this parka’s seamless element and its contoured hood structure with cushion collar means no cold air can enter. UNIQLO has truly pulled out all the stops for this particular parka so you’ll be getting bang for your buck when you invest in one of UNIQLO’s Seamless Down Parkas!
All in all, the Neo-nordic section is the perfect place to shop for all your winter and layering needs. So don’t be surprised if the next time you’re looking to get your winter essentials, your luggage or closet is brimming with just UNIQLO apparel!
New HEATTECH and PUFFTECH
Speaking of winter essentials, UNIQLO’s new HEATTECH and PUFFTECH apparel is also arriving just in time for the winter season!
A new range of HEATTECH is upon us, and this time it’s the HEATTECH Cashmere! Made of a thin fabric that mixes 9% cashmere for a smooth layering piece that’ll keep you warm, layering for colder temperatures has never been easier thanks to the all-new HEATTECH Cashmere.
One HEATTECH item to check out would be the HEATTECH High-Neck T-shirt, which has a new colour and is limited to certain stores. This HEATTECH High-Neck T-shirt is a must for temperatures as low as -20°C to 10°C, so use this as a base layer when bundling yourself up in your winter wardrobe!
If you don’t believe that it can withstand such low temperatures, just know that it’s 2.25 times warmer than UNIQLO’s regular HEATTECH, has high-performance fabric with heat absorption and retention, and moisture-wicking comfort features. If these fantastic features can’t convince you, then I don’t know what else will.
Now, moving over to the new PUFFTECH. PUFFTECH has an all-new range, which features the lightest and warmest ever UNIQLO yarn developed! If you don’t know what PUFFTECH is, you can look to its name for clues. Essentially, PUFFTECH features a unique wadding, a soft and thick material used to line garments, that uses cutting-edge fibre technology to maximise warmth by trapping air!
PUFFTECH’s ultra-fine hollow fibres are ⅕ the thickness of human hair and are shaped like springs to create gaps that hold warm air to provide exceptional lightness and heat retention. I even got to touch the tech for myself, and I’m not exaggerating or lying when I say it felt like touching actual pillowy, heavenly clouds of softness and warmth!
As mentioned in the Neo-nordic section, some PUFFTECH pieces to look out for include the PUFFTECH Parka which I believe will never leave your closet once you’ve gotten your hands on it!
Timeless Essentials and Re.UNIQLO
It’s time… for UNIQLO’s Timeless Essentials Showcase! The embodiment of “timeless” themselves, the “10 Timeless Essentials” showcase spotlights masterpiece items well-loved by you and me.
A testament to UNIQLO’s commitment to making good quality and long-lasting LifeWear, some pieces on display you may be familiar with include the Premium Linen Shirt, which is entirely made from 100% European Flax. Styling this shirt is a piece of cake as it provides a regular silhouette and you can wear it on its own or as a layer.
The Timeless Essentials Showcase has also been divided into three categories — athleisure, casual, and workwear, so your everyday activities are all practically covered by UNIQLO!
Other than making major throwbacks to fan-favourite pieces, UNIQLO also took the chance to showcase how to extend the life of your UNIQLO LifeWear with the UNIQLO initiative, RE.UNIQLO! Under the Neighbours Helping Neighbours programme, the RE.UNIQLO initiative is where recycled UNIQLO products are collected, sorted, and redistributed to people in need.
How does this process work? Well, it all starts with the customer, aka you! In fact, you don’t need to put in that much elbow grease to be part of this wonderful initiative! All you have to do is bring your preloved UNIQLO clothes to UNIQLO’s stores for donation.
Make sure to put the items you intend to donate in the RE.UNIQLO box, in which the clothes will then be sorted according to their rightful category. While it would be beneficial if you do your part in ensuring the clothes are clean before donation, UNIQLO is also taking the extra step to have the clothes sent for washing which is done by their partner Yellow Ribbon Singapore.
Finally, the deed is done, and the clothes that can still be worn will be donated to those who really need it. Simple!
Other than donation efforts, the RE.UNIQLO Studio also offers other services to your own benefit! Offering simple, practical on-site repairs, your UNIQLO apparels’ lives are also extended through this fellow initiative.
UNIQLO provides repair services starting from S$5, including pocket tears, loose hems, broken belt loops, split seams, fallen buttons, holes, and more! You name it, the RE.UNIQLO Studio’s Repair Team probably can do it!
Do note that while these repair services are available daily, they are limited to the UNIQLO 51@AMK and UNIQLO Orchard Central Global Flagship stores!
UNIQLO Singapore Details
Ready to fall in love with UNIQLO’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection? While some apparel has yet to appear in stores, many of these amazing pieces can already be found on shelves or are already being sold on UNIQLO’s online store, so get your hands on them before the winter and fall seasons begin!
📍Location: Multiple locations
⏰Opening hours: For all locations’ opening hours, please visit UNIQLO Singapore’s website.
Get your apparel essentials all on UNIQLO’s online store! For more information, check out UNIQLO’s socials on Facebook and Instagram.
Photos by Brendan Tan of the DANAMIC Team. Additional visual courtesy of UNIQLO Singapore.
