Christophe Lemaire joins Uniqlo as Creative Director of new line
Designer Christophe Lemaire has joined the Japanese retail brand as Creative Director of its recently established R&D centre in Paris, and of a new apparel line, Uniqlo YU Line. The new line will be available in the autumn/winter, and it aims to replicate the innovative approach of the brand's LifeWear range.
Christophe Lemaire created and launched the Lemaire brand in 1991 and soon made a name for himself, becoming Creative Director of Lacoste in 2000. In 2011 he was appointed Creative Director of Hermès' womenswear lines, succeeding Jean Paul Gaultier.
Lemaire's own brand was relaunched in 2007, and in 2015 became a member of France's Chambre syndicale de la mode masculine (the men's fashion union). It will continue to operate in parallel with Lemaire's Uniqlo role. The appointment follows the launch of a 'Uniqlo and Lemaire' menswear collection in autumn 2015, followed by a new capsule collection for Spring/Summer 2016.
"Time and time again I have been astonished by his exceptional talent, as we worked together to create the Uniqlo and Lemaire collection," stated Tadashi Yanai, the CEO of Fast Retailing, Uniqlo's parent company. "I'm eager to see more of the innovations he is capable of inspiring, and I'm convinced that his experience and his remarkable talent will prosper at Uniqlo."
The Fast Retailing group generated sales for €12.5 billion in the fiscal year closed at the end of August, equivalent to a 26 % rise. Its top management has recently indicated that a lowering of retail prices may be currently under evaluation.
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