Uniqlo has announced plans for a collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist KAWS whose real name is Brian Donnelly. Thus far the chain has only revealed a single t-shirt featuring the artist’s “Tide” print, sold at his “What Party” exhibit, which debuted at the Brooklyn Museum in 2021 and traveled to multiple museums globally.
The reveal was made with a short video in which a KAWS Companion pushes through a stack of KAWS-branded books to reveal the white and blue “Tide” t-shirt. There’s a good chance the t-shirt and books speaks to a theme, which might be some of the art featured in his “What Party” exhibit.
Uniqlo and KAWS have collaborated in the past. Their 2017 partnership was themed on the Peanuts and two years later the effort celebrated Sesame Street characters. Offerings included hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts and plush toys, offered in adult and kids sizing. More recently KAWS was part of a group of artists each of whom designed a t-shirt for Uniqlo’s “Peace for All” fund-raising effort.
There is no timing or pricing as of yet, but if this launch is like prior ones, Uniqlo will make plenty of product for everyone and it will be sold on uniqlo.com and in select stores globally.