UNIQLO

"UNIQLO- From Tokoyo to the World. Made for all. It doesn't matter who you are or where you live, UNIQLO makes clothes that transcend all categories and social groups. Everything is deeply rooted in a Japanese origin, aspiring to excellence in quality, design and technology while making clothing affordable and accessible to everyone".

UNIQLO is actively working toward the launch of their second global flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York and is currently hiring store management trainees. With the continued global expansion that UNIQLO has undertaken it is unevitable that they will hopefully open a store in California. Till then uniqlo.com will have to do.

- Uniqlo.com inspires the world to dress casual

ASIAN PERSUASION

Top Asian figures are sweeping the fashion world and I have to say, it’s about time! From talented Asian-American designers getting acknowledged for surpassing expectations to Armani opening shops in China, it is certainly an exciting and refreshing change of pace for the industry.

Recently, Vogue shot an editorial for their December issue, styled by my favorite creative head, Grace Coddington, which showcases a new outlook on beauty. It features models of various Asian ethnicities such as Liu Wen, Du Juan, and Tao Okamoto. I am in love with this spread not so much for the style per se but rather the new meaning it gives to the traditional and often erroneous definition of beauty in our world.

image source: fashiongonerogue.com

Although this change is refreshing, I have to agree with NY mag columnist James Lim that "it always seems easier for magazines to lump the girls in a feature like this, feel like the acknowledgment has been made, and then revert back to their usual ultra-white mix of models in subsequent issues. It will be interesting to see if and how Vogue will support these statements in forthcoming issues." Hopefully this isn't a one-time spread and it will be the leading force in diversifying the spectrum of skin colors seen on the runways and magazine covers.