Talking Inclusive Fashion with Gordon Reid: Global Brand Ambassador Joins UNIQLO for Panel Discussion in Germany
Talking Inclusive Fashion with Gordon Reid: Global Brand Ambassador Joins UNIQLO for Panel Discussion in Germany
In February 2023, UNIQLO welcomed its Global Brand Ambassador Gordon Reid to its Berlin flagship store for a panel discussion about the UNIQLO Inclusive Fashion Project. The Inclusive Fashion Project is an initiative launched by UNIQLO on a pilot basis in Germany in 2022 to modify LifeWear to meet the everyday needs of people with physical disabilities.
At the session, held in cooperation with inclusive fashion label AUF AUGENHOEHE, the wheelchair tennis champion joined participants from the inclusive fashion pilot project to discuss the results of previous workshops, as well as to share their personal experiences regarding clothing and accessibility.
Regarding the project, Gordon told the audience that “There is a wide range of disabilities, and with each comes different needs when it comes to clothing. So we have to try to stay flexible and adaptive and learn from personal experiences. That's why projects and workshops like UNIQLO’s are important, because they bring different perspectives together and try to understand how they can change the status quo.”
One workshop participant, said that “I absolutely appreciate that such a big brand like UNIQLO sits down with our community and listens. During the workshops I felt very understood, and I am looking forward to the next steps UNIQLO might take.”
Yamato Kuwahara, COO of UNIQLO Germany, said "UNIQLO LifeWear is 'Made for all'. With the UNIQLO Inclusive Fashion Project, we want to get even closer to this philosophy and adapt our collection to the needs and wishes of customers who use wheelchairs. I am very happy that with AUF AUGENHOEHE, we have an experienced project partner on board who already has great expertise in the field of accessible fashion."
About the UNIQLO Inclusive Fashion Project
So far, UNIQLO Germany’s inclusive fashion project has involved a series of three workshops held from October - November 2022, with an aim to determine how UNIQLO clothing can be changed to become more inclusive and barrier-free. A total of seven wheelchair users worked together with the teams from UNIQLO and AUF AUGENHOEHE at the RE.UNIQLO STUDIO in the Berlin flagship store, with discussions focused on key product categories of shirts, blouses, and jeans.