Uniqlo collaborated with designer Hana Tajima for the modest 'lifewear' collection

Japanese retail company Uniqlo has teamed up with Muslim fashion designer, Hana Tajima, to create a modest ‘lifewear’ collection for women.

The collection includes long, flowing skirts, tapered ankle-length pants and traditional wear like kebaya and hijabs, with the company saying the collection ‘fuses contemporary design and comfortable fabrics with traditional values.’

Inspired: Fashion designer Hana Tajima converted to Islam at 17 and has always been passionate about finding ways to keep traditional and conservative clothing and accessories flattering on the body

Lightweight and soft: Rayon is used widely in the range due to its lightweight, comfortable texture

Designed by popular British fashion blogger Tajima, the range carefully blends modern prints and colours with modest cuts to cater to all women who embrace a modest style.

The popular fashion blogger, who converted to Islam at 17, announced the collaboration on her personal blog, saying it felt wonderful to let her mind run and ‘unearth’ her ideas.

‘Now you get to see it in its whole form and it’s all for you,’ Tajima wrote

The pieces in the collection are all made from smooth, breathable and non-restrictive fabrics, with rayon one of the key materials featuring due to its soft texture.

TENCEL, a soft, botanically derived, wrinkle-resistant fiber is also used, as well as AIRism, which is a quick drying, odour minimising fabric which was developed by Uniqlo in collaboration with Toray.

The tops range from layered blouses and wrap and tie back tunics, and the pants include both lose-fitting and straight-legged pants that are all slim silhouetted, made with high waistlines, and void of pockets or fasteners.

The dresses are designed to drape over the body without clinging too tightly, creating a feminine silhouette in a modest way with long boat neck dresses and camisoles.

The traditional Kebaya can be worn three ways, with a zipper on the skirt allowing it to be separated from the top and be worn as a simple wrap.

The hijabs come in a wide range of edgy patterns and colours, and can be worn as head scarves or wrapped around the neck.

28-year-old Malaysian singer Yuna fronts the collection, saying in a campaign video that she can experiment a lot of different ways with Tajima’s pieces.

‘I’m really happy to be a part of this,’ she said.

The Uniqlo X Hana Tajima Collection is launched today, July 3, at Uniqlo’s 313@Somerset store on Singapore’s Orchard Rd, and online at www.uniqlo.com/sg.

The collection features pants (SG$49.90), skirts ($49.90), rayon blouses ($49.90) and long dresses ($49.90-$59.90) with a comfortable, relaxed fit which Uniqlo says makes them appropriate for an office and perfect as casual outfits. “Our conservative customers will certainly delight at the variety of stylish hijab headscarves ($24.90-$29.90), as well as inner AIRism hijab headscarves ($4.90) and headbands ($14.90). AIRism is a Uniqlo patented material that is thin, light and absorbs moisture for extraordinary comfort especially in tropical climates. Taku Morikawa, CEO of Uniqlo Singapore, said the Hana Tajima collection illustrates Uniqlo’s ambition of making fashionable, high quality products for all to wear, while enhancing their lifestyle at the same time. “We worked with Hana to determine what would be internationally appealing while keeping to the concept of modest wear. We are thrilled with the results of this unique collaboration which produced a desirable collection that does not sacrifice style for utmost comfort.” Hana Tajima, who oversaw the design of every piece in this collection, said: “We want to create a collection that not only appeals to modern ladies who prefer to dress modestly, but also an international audience who desire clothes that fit comfortably and look contemporary. My collection is specially designed to allow effortless mix and match for the today’s women to express their own style.”