Seventy years & three islands on fabric • PhilSTAR Life

Some milestones are measured in stories people continue to tell each other. Seventy years after the Philippines and Japan formalized diplomatic ties, Uniqlo marks the occasion with materials and transformation: wood becomes landscape, fabric becomes memory and coffee becomes conversation. Everyday life takes on the texture of fable.

To celebrate the milestone, the Japanese retail giant skipped standard merch in favor of local talent working with carved wood, embroidered patches and custom ube drink. Partnering with Filipino artists and designers, Uniqlo transformed its Glorietta flagship into something that has the vibe of an art exhibition.

“We’ve been in the Philippines for almost 15 years,” said Uniqlo Philippines marketing director Jan Jizelle Ang at the media preview. “Celebrating this milestone together is a reminder of why Uniqlo exists here.”

Woven stories: Created in collaboration with art director Wilson Limon and artisan communities across the Philippines, the exclusive Re.Uniqlo Special Artisan Patches project celebrates the country’s rich cultural heritage through handcrafted embroidery, reflecting the stories, artistry, and craftsmanship of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

She always tells the people around her that they don’t just sell fashion. “We sell technology, we sell science. Airism really had concrete benefits and value to Filipinos’ lives because it just made everyday life more comfortable. I still have clothes from Uniqlo sitting in my closet... I would wear pieces from 10 years back or 15 years back, and it’s so alive.”

Since opening its first Philippine store, Uniqlo has expanded to 81 locations across the country, from Bonifacio Global City to Davao. Everyday staples like AIRism, Heattech, and Dry-EX have become wardrobe defaults for millions of Filipinos. But for this anniversary, the focus shifts from tech to tradition.

Islands reimagined: Uniqlo showcases commemorative monuments in collaboration with Salcedo Auctions that thoughtfully blend Japanese and Filipino cultural elements in celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Japan Friendship. These region-inspired installations reinterpret the landscapes of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao through architectural displays that combine Philippine natural landmarks with Japanese design elements.

Collaborating with Salcedo Auctions, Uniqlo commissioned three large wooden installations representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Unveiled recently at Glorietta, the sculptures reimagine local landscapes through modern design: Luzon draws from the iconic rice terraces, detailed with woven lotus motifs; Visayas focuses on the coconut tree—the “Tree of Life”—accented with suspended origami cranes; and Mindanao takes the shape of an undulating wave filled with koi fish, blending Philippine waters with Japanese symbolism.

Salcedo Auctions chairman Richie Lerma described the collection as “Japanese precision executed through Filipino hands.” Crafted from FSC-certified wood, the sculptures were assembled by artisans in Parañaque, with intricate beadwork crafted in Nueva Ecija.

Another collaboration brings Filipino textile traditions into everyday clothing. Designer Wilson Limon of Niñofranco created a series of anniversary patches for Re.Uniqlo Studio, the brand’s repair and upcycling service.

Alliance: Re.Uniqlo Special Artisan Patches art director Wilson Limon, Salcedo Auctions chairman & chief specialist Richie Lerma and Uniqlo Philippines marketing director Jan Jizelle Ang celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Philippines- Japan Friendship with the unveiling of Uniqlo Coffee’s newest Ube Kome Cloud drink offering, the Re.Uniqlo Special Artisan Patches, and commemorative installations that honor the enduring friendship and cultural exchange between the two nations.

Each patch begins as leftover Uniqlo fabric before being embroidered with patterns inspired by the Itneg weavers of Abra, the Panay Bukidnon weavers of Iloilo, and the T’boli weavers of Lake Sebu.

“We wanted representation from each island group,” Limon explained. “These are the artisans I’ve been working with. These are the patterns that personally resonate with me.”

For Limon, the project goes beyond decoration.

A taste of clouds: Uniqlo Coffee, in collaboration with Salcedo Auctions, offers the limited- time Ube Kome Cloud, a seasonal beverage made with Bohol’s premium Ube Kinampay and Japan’s Koshihikari burnt rice milk to create a unique blend of Filipino and Japanese flavors.

“I’ve always wanted to be a bridge between traditional artisans and the contemporary world,” he said. “It’s important because it gives them visibility. We preserve traditional craftsmanship while making it relevant today.”

Limon said the team coordinated closely with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, presenting every design to the communities involved. “I don’t want to just extract a pattern and put it somewhere. I want them to know, to acknowledge them. We want to respect them.”

And then, there’s the drink.

The Uniqlo Café teamed up with Salcedo Auctions Café to create the “Ube Kome Cloud”—a mix of Japanese Koshihikari burnt rice milk and Kinampay ube from Bohol, topped with sweet cream foam. It’s an unexpected pairing, but fitting for a partnership seven decades in the making.

A carved sculpture, an embroidered patch, or even a cup of coffee cannot tell the entire story of seven decades between two nations. They can, however, offer something more intimate, a glimpse of how cultures continue to borrow from, inspire, and shape one another.

That is what is unique and the source of the glow about the whole thing.

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For information, visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com.