Design for Better Living - From Couture to Uniqlo
summary
Design work links couture craft and mass-market systems through concrete choices: using industrial knit programming and a double-face fabric to create a sweat hoodie that sells out three times, running data analysis of global body shapes to set region-specific fits (Asia shorter, Scandinavia tallest), and accepting 18-month lead times while debating small trim changes until meetings where teams think deeply for weeks. Tradeoffs show up as removed pockets, prioritized function over ornament, and strict merchandising to avoid duplicate blazers.
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chapters (13)
- 0:00Introduction and welcome
- 1:26Early career at Calvin Klein
- 6:06Transition to Ralph Lauren
- 8:35Fashion education and craft
- 12:02Working in European fashion houses
- 13:49Joining Uniqlo
- 17:01Balancing fashion and business at Uniqlo
- 19:27Designing for global markets
- 21:36Uniqlo collaborations
- 23:46Fashion and technology
- 25:14Designing for the future
- 27:46Fashion cycles and nostalgia
- 29:53Closing remarks and Q&A
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