Uniqlo x Hana Tajima - Living, Loving, Thinking, Again

Krithika Varagur “Here's Why Uniqlo Is Poised To Nail The Muslim Fashion Market” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/uniqlo-hijabs-february_us_56c3699de4b08ffac126a8fa *1

ユニクロ *2（但し米国）がムスリム女性もターゲットに含めてリリースするUniqlo x Hana Tajima というライン*3。鍵言葉は「控え目なファッション（modest fashion）」とAirism。

Uniqlo x Hana Tajima will officially launch on Feb. 26, and is affordably priced from $10 to $60. It includes traditional Islamic garments like the hijab, kebaya, and jubbah, but also loose-fitting Western items like skirts and long-sleeve tops.
Tajima told The Huffington Post she wanted to provide a variety of garments because "modesty varies from person to person -- it's not just about hijabs, it’s about finding looser silhouettes, more coverage, longer hems and sleeves."
Uniqlo will be the latest brand to target Muslim women, following the footsteps of Dolce & Gabbana's line of abayas and DKNY and Mango's "Ramadan collections." But its effort seems like the best one yet, for several reasons.
For one thing, its designer is actually Muslim. Tajima, who is 29, converted to Islam when she was 18. Her father is Japanese and her mom is English, and this cosmopolitan background may inform her conception of the Muslim world as a diverse population, rather than a monolith.
That's why the Uniqlo line includes so many different options for "modest wear." There are three different head-covering options: a traditional scarf-like hijab, a form-fitting "inner hijab" to be worn inside looser garments, and an "inner headband" that is like a cap for keeping hair covered and in place. That's an attention to useful detail that's practically unforeseen in mainstream Muslim fashion offerings.
The collaboration also capitalizes on the signature strengths of each partner: Uniqlo is known for its high-performance technical fabrics, and the hijabs and headbands are made from "Airism," a breathable, moisture-wicking fabric designed specially for the collection. You can imagine the practical implications of a high-performance headscarf in places like the Gulf countries, where hijabi women often contend with 100-degree-plus temperatures.
"Uniqlo's fabric expertise was literally the first thing I thought of when they approached me for the collection," said Tajima. "Since Muslim fashion tends to involve more fabric, it’s especially important that those fabrics are breathable."

その広告写真*4からもわかるようにムスリムのみをターゲットにしたものではない。でも、より分厚いムスリム市場がある中東やヨーロッパではなく米国なのか。ドナルド・トランプ *5への当て擦りというわけでもあるまい。

*1:Japanese translation http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2016/02/18/uniqlo-nail-muslim-fashion_n_9269056.html

*3:http://www.uniqlo.com/us/uniqlo-x-hana-tajima.html

*4:http://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/scalefit_630_noupscale/56c494dd1900002900377d71.jpeg