NIGO on His New Position as Creative Director of UNIQLO UT

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Highsnobiety Interview –

Last October, UNIQLO announced the appointment of NIGO as the creative director of UT (Uniqlo T-shirt), the mega retailer’s first-ever role of the sort for its LifeWear line. The founder and former creative director of BAPE and owner of Human Made is busy these days, traveling the world to debut his first collection for UT this Spring/Summer 2014. We caught a few moments with NIGO during his recent stay in New York, and heard from the famed streetwear icon himself on how he plans to transform the UT brand. See our full exclusive interview below.

Photography: Thomas Welch/Highsnobiety.com

You are the first creative director that UNIQLO has appointed specifically for UT — How did the conversation begin?

UNIQLO approached me this spring, about six months ago, and I was interested.

How do you feel about being a part of UNIQLO?
I’m really pleased to be working on a project where it feels like there’s a lot of work for me. The scale of UNIQLO is global and it’s got customers all over the world. It’s a great project for me to do. And it’s a new kind of discipline to me, to make something that can have really broad appeal. In the past, I’ve been able to appeal to a very hardcore group and bring them to me, but now I have to learn to study broad customers and work for them.

What was your attraction to the UNIQLO brand?
I respect UNIQLO’s ability to be out there in the rest of the world, because at the moment, there are not many Japanese brands that are able to. And the scale of it is interesting to me. I was specifically asked to do the UT brand, and t-shirts is something I felt I could actually bring something to.

What is the brand aesthetic and attitude that you want to bring to UT?
Basically, I’ve changed everything. I wanted to create a new standard for the brand, starting with the t-shirt itself. UT has been using the same shape and cut for a long time. All of them had side seams, and I wanted them to be tubular-knit. The quality was all good, but it looked good flat and [boxy] when you wore them. I wanted it to be [comfortable] and breathy when you wear them. From that point, [it was just] using the actual graphics and I’m used to working with graphics.

Are you using any higher-quality materials? Will the price point stay the same?
The price point will not change. The fit is changed to how I envisioned, but the quality was always good. [My quality] is just different. I really tried to use all of the resources available atUNIQLO that I wasn’t able to [use] before [UNIQLO] — for example, printing the whole shirt rather than printing on the front of the shirt. There are a lot of new options.

UT has been known for having designs by notable artists like Terry Richardson, Sølve Sundsbø and House Industries. Do you plan on bringing in any more designers or artists to collaborate?
There’s a lot of stuff in the pipeline. There are over 1,000 SKUs this season. But the main thing is that I am working with a new shape for the shirts, so the news [on collaborators] will come later.

You are known for being a really avid toy collector — you are a huge fan of Star Wars and all the American superheroes. Which character are you most excited about bringing in the UT collection?
I really like being able to use the Wizard of Oz. I wanted to do that for quite some time. I bought the movie again recently so it’s a fresh memory.

You made BAPE a lifestyle brand, with a café, toys and even housewares. Are there any plans to expand UT to other product categories beyond t-shirts?
This is not my brand. It is cool for me to work as part of the team and be the leader, but the direction is there already and I have to work within that framework. But it’s an open door — if we see a need, I’m definitely open [to expanding].

The UNIQLO UT Spring/Summer 2014 collection will be available in stores at the end of this month, with prices ranging from $19.99 to $29.99.

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Snap!

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Daft Punk: Behind The Helmets Documentary

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The combined talents of DJs Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, the pair’s first projects together included Darling, a voiceless indie cover band; their current recording name derives from a review in U.K. music weekly Melody Maker of a compilation tape Darling were featured on, released by Krautrock revivalists Stereolab (their lo-fi D.I.Y. cover of a Beach Boys song was derided as “daft punk”). Subsequently ditching the almost inevitable creative cul-de-sac of rock for the more appealing rush of the dancefloor, the pair released their debut single, “The New Wave,” in 1993 on the celebrated Soma label. Instantly hailed by the dance music press as the work of a new breed of house innovators, the single was followed by “Da Funk,” the band’s first true hit (the record sold 30,000 copies worldwide and saw thorough rinsings by everyone from Kris Needs to the Chemical Brothers).

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Character Design & Concept Art by Oscar Romer

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Oscar Römer is a talented freelance illustrator and concept artist based in Berlin, Germany.

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Amazon Prime Air

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Amazon Prime Air –

We’re excited to share Prime Air – something the team has been working on in our next generation R&D lab. The goal of this new delivery system is to get packages into customers’ hands in 30 minutes or less using unmanned aerial vehicles. Putting Prime Air into commercial use will take some number of years as we advance technology and wait for the necessary FAA rules and regulations. This is footage from a recent test flight. See page athttp://amzn.to/PrimeAir

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Air Jordan 11 Retro Gamma Blue

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Jordan Brand is unveiling something special for the holiday season in the form of a new Air Jordan 11 Retro. The “Gamma Blue” as it is called takes the iconic Jordan model and blacks everything out including the midsole, which is usually white with this model. This sneaker darkens the plush Phylon cushioning, as well as the mesh and patent leather upper. Contrasting details are provided by the Gamma Blue seen on the Jumpman imprint and portions of the outsole, while varsity maize adds another accent on the tongue tag and heel tab. An icy blue outsole finishes out the release that will be hitting shelves at Wish soon.

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Explore.

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Grenade Mug

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The grenade shaped porcelain mug from Megawing is an eye attraction on your table. The cool-looking mug is not only fun, but keeps your drink warm if you cover the lid.

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Pharrell Presents the World’s First 24-Hour Music Video

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Perpetually innovative and consistently creative, Pharrell Williams has recently launched the visuals for his Despicable Me 2 single “Happy” – completely stretching the capacity of the music video medium in the process. Williams channels the feeling of playing your favorite song walking down the sidewalk by recording a 24-hour sample of his life, looping the track in the background. Through menial tasks like going to the store or navigating a crowd, Skateboard P keeps thing interesting with cameos from Magic Johnson, Steve Carrell and even Odd Future, as well as some charming choreography.

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Jay Z Buys Basquiats Mecca Painting

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Jay Z‘s enthusiasm for art has been widely noted throughout his music, with his appreciation for the likes of Picasso, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons resulting in continuous lyrical name-drops throughout his recent music, and now, Hov has acquired a piece by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Titled Mecca, the 1982 piece was purchased at Sotheby’s in Manhattan, and just the latest addition to Jay Z’s growing selection of Basquiat works, with Hov posting a picture online recently of him and recent Roc Nation signee Jeezy beside one of his other Basquiat pieces.

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Kanye West Leaves Nike, Announces Deal with adidas

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Following rumors that Kanye West would be cutting ties with Nike, official news broke moments ago via the Angie Martinez Show that Mr. West would be signing on with adidas. Ye stopped by the show and opened up regarding his reasoning for the move as well as highlighting his sentiments towards making the shift. While it may seem abrupt – in light of the “Red October” commotion – the move is hardly surprising, as the artist-turned-designer recently spoke out against the fashion industry as whole including the likes of Hedi Slimane, Bernard Arnault, Francois Pinault and Nike’s CEO, Mark Parker. Speaking out on the subject, Ye stated:

“The old me, without a daughter, would have taken the Nike deal because I just love Nikes so much. But the new me, with a daughter, takes the adidas deal because I have royalties and I have to provide for my family.”

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Conference of Cool.

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Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

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The Bent Bullet: JFK and the Mutant Conspiracy | X-Men

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Half a century ago, Magneto was implicated in the mutant plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. The events of that fateful day in November have been a point of contention between humans and the mutants ever since.

After years of incarceration, do you think Magneto is guilty or innocent? Tell us why in the comments.

Find out more at:
http://www.thebentbullet.com

X-Men: Days of Future Past, in theaters May 23, 2014

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Snap!

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Poland’s Tobaco Hotel by EC-5

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Flipping the site of a former cigarette factory, Polish design and architecture studio EC-5 has officially opened the doors to its modernized “Tobaco Hotel.” Located in the historic factory district of Poland’s third-largest city Łódź, the hotel’s motif leaves much of the industrial structure of the building visible and intact, complimented by a methodically chosen selection of ’50s and ’60s era furnishings. Vivid blue and yellow hues feature throughout, balanced by white ceilings and walls in addition to exposed brick and concrete identifying the significant transition the space has made. “Tobaco Hotel” can be counted amongst a broad number of architectural projects that EC-5 has executed in Łódź, the city in which it is based, as well as elsewhere in Poland.

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Ironlak Presents: SOFLES Limitless Exhibition

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Do yourself a favour. Take five a get ready to have your mind blown by this amazing executed video of some of the best graffiti you’ll see.

Take four graffiti artists, an abandoned warehouse interior, and an unlimited amount of spraypaint and what do you get? Probably the greatest timelapse graffiti film you’ve seen this year! The featured Brisbane warehouse was scheduled to be demolished, so street artists Sofles, Fintan Magee, Treas, and Quench went hard on the space. Filmmaker Selina Miles followed their every step, and created this awesome time-lapse video of the project.

If you were blown away by this amazing video, here are some links to follow the artists and show some love.

Instagram: @sofles @selinamiles @drapl @fintan_magee @butchdaddy @ironlak

Shot/Cut: Selina Miles.
Art by SOFLES, Fintan Magee, Treas, Quench.
Soundtrack by DJ Butcher (track-listing below).

www.sofles.com
www.ironlak.com
www.selinamiles.com
www.facebook.com/fintanmageeart

DJ Butcher track-listing:
1. Get Busy Pt. 2
2. Cocaine
3. All in check.

The ‘Limitless’ EP is available for free download via this link: goo.gl/IE0Lfg
soundcloud.com/djbutcherr
www.facebook.com/djbutcherr

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Jeep Wrangler Full Metal Jacket by Starwood Motors

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Paying homage to Stanley Kubrick’s critically-acclaimed 1979 film, Texas-based car customizer Starwood Motors reveals its latest Jeep Wrangler recreation dubbed the “Full Metal Jacket.” Listed at $107,000 USD, this blacked out Wrangler totes a Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 285 horsepower and travels zero to 60 in 8.4 seconds. Further specs include a fully-upgraded suspension and lift kit, LED light bars all around, and Kevlar panels on both its interior and exterior.

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Space.

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Food for thought.

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Candice Swanepoel by KAWS and James Jebbia for i-D Magazine

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Candice Swanepoel stripped down in front of Matt Jones’ lens for i-D Magazine‘s recent “Collector’s Issue,” which features an extensive article on two of New York City’s art and fashion scene’s most notorious figures – Brian Donnelly aka KAWS and Supreme mastermind James Jebbia. Accordingly, we see the South African stunner amongst the artist’s distinct illustrations while holding a Supreme skateboard and wearing oversized “Companion” gloves.

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