Jil Sander Teams Up with Japan Budget Fashion Label

Designer Jil Sander's fashions are making a comeback, not on the runways of Milan or Paris but on the shelves of Japanese budget clothing retailer Uniqlo, which is thriving in the recession.

Uniqlo's owner, Fast Retailing, said it had hired Sander as design consultant and to oversee its collection for the next fall and winter seasons, plus possibly create her own line.

Sander, whose minimalist designs in monochromes and luxurious fabrics won her a cult following in the 1990s, has kept a low profile since leaving her namesake label in 2004.

"The challenge for me is to establish premium quality and democratically priced brand Uniqlo," she told reporters in Tokyo after the deal was announced last week.

more: reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews (41)

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