When Jil Sander first partnered with UNIQLO in 2009, the move felt quietly radical. At the time, Sander was largely removed from the industry and UNIQLO was still establishing itself globally. Yet the collaboration, known as +J, would go on to reshape how luxury and accessibility could coexist.
Rather than a one off capsule, +J marked the first time a designer oversaw a dedicated UNIQLO line. The collection distilled Sander’s minimalist philosophy into elevated everyday essentials, helping position UNIQLO as a destination for thoughtful, well designed basics rather than trend driven fast fashion.
After 2011, +J briefly returned a decade later, by which point UNIQLO had become exactly the kind of brand Sander had envisioned. Her influence now runs through many of the label’s ongoing collaborations, from UNIQLO U to UNIQLO : C.
The collaboration is set to return once again in January 2026 with a limited Japan exclusive reprint of key +J pieces, including a funnel neck down coat, a relaxed bomber jacket, and classic collared shirts. Understated by design, the pieces focus on refined materials and subtle construction details rather than spectacle.
