Is it worth buying Uniqlo, the Japanese clothing brand that is having the biggest success on social media? Find out in this post with my review of some of the brand's main pieces.
In 2014, my family and I took our first international trip together, and we took the opportunity to do a lot of shopping.
One of them was a t-shirt with innovative technology, which despite being made of super thin fabric, was super warm. My mother had read about it on the internet, and about this brand called Uniqlo.
Since then, ten years later, I can safely say that this is the brand that has made up my wardrobe the most. I have blouses, shirts, pants, shorts, tops, and I just don't have them anymore because the brand doesn't have physical stores in Lisbon.
In this post, I show you some of my favorite pieces, and I explain whether it's worth buying Uniqlo, and when it is better to choose other brands instead of the Japanese giant.
What is Uniqlo's proposal?
Uniqlo emerged to be an affordable option for quality pieces. The company manufactures traditional pieces, but always investing in good fabrics and technology, so that even the simplest items have a modern touch.
With its high popularity on social media, even more so among the capsule wardrobe niche, the brand has achieved great popularity, even doing collabs with big names like JW Anderson, Comme de Garçons, and Jil Sander.
Uniqlo's main lines
In addition to selling several traditional pieces, such as t-shirts, pants, blouses and even bags and accessories, Uniqlo has some of the brand's signature lines, such as:
HEATTECH
Thermal clothing with Japanese technology, to maintain body heat and keep you warm throughout the day. The clothes in this line are made with super fine fibers, preventing heat from escaping, as well as keeping you dry all day and controlling odors.
Here at my house, my boyfriend and I are in love with our HEATTECH t-shirts. I wear it under all my outfits in the winter, and he used it now during a trip to Europe to watch several football games when the temperatures in the stadiums were close to zero degrees.
I carry it in my suitcase on all my trips to the cold, and even included recommendations in the post on how to pack a travel bag in winter.
AIRism
The opposite of previous technology, the AIRsim line is made from lightweight fabrics, which release heat instead of retaining it. Perfect for use in the heat, as the clothes dry super quickly, don't absorb moisture, and keep you dry even during a summer afternoon.
The line is super complete, and includes t-shirts, pants, shirts, coats and even underwear and hygienic masks. For those who have a trip planned to hit the European summer, for example, it's a great option.
Ultralight Down
It’s the line “gasoline doll", with those characteristic coats reminiscent of a Michelin doll. It is perhaps the brand's most popular line, as the coats are made with a special filling that is not only super warm, but also very light..
It's so light that you can fold the coats and store them in bags that are a little bigger than the palm of your hand. And the best thing is that the brand itself makes these bags available along with the coats, to make things easier.
I like to always tie my bag to my backpack, that way it doesn't take up any space and my coat is always with me. I used it a lot when I made it trails in South Africa.
My favorite pieces from the brand and my impressions
I currently own the following pieces:
- Ultra Light Down Jacket
- HEATTECH Scoop Neck Long Sleeve (one in the normal version, one in the super hot version)
- Extra Fine Cotton Shirt (two button-down shirts, one white and one lilac)
- Linen Cotton Blend Shorts (two linen shorts)
- Pleated Wide Leg Trousers (viral pants on TikTok)
- Seamless Bra Top (cropped with built-in cup)
- 100% Merino Turtleneck Jumper (two merino wool turtleneck shirts)
There may still be one or two items that I'm forgetting.
I absolutely love every piece in terms of quality. In winter, I practically only wear Uniqlo, combining my Heattech blouses as the first layer, and layering the turtlenecks that are 100% wool on top.
This is the combination that I use here in Lisbon, and that I even used to go to Disney in January, at the height of the Florida winter (if you can call it winter, right). On the coldest nights, I completed it with a cotton jacket that didn't weigh anything to carry in my backpack in the parks.
The most interesting thing is that the size is very generous – for the HEATTECHs I use size Small and, even though I have gained almost 15kg since purchasing, they still fit perfectly. As for the wool blouses, I bought size M to wear over others and they also look perfect. In general, tops are large, and bottoms are a little smaller.
The summer pieces have been with me for two or three years, and they have also been used a lot, both the shorts and the cropped tops and the button-down shirts that I wear over other cropped tops and tank tops.
All are still intact and show little signs of use., and I'm only going to retire the shorts (or start wearing them for the beach) because I've noticed that 100% linen ends up riding up between my legs while I'm walking. But this also happens with other brands, it's not Uniqlo's fault.
The only thing I don't like about Uniqlo are the dresses. Not because of the quality, but because of the models – most are low waisted and have a straighter fit, which doesn't flatter my body type at all. I also think the pieces are a little too long for my 1,59m height.
Is it worth buying Uniqlo? Are the pieces of quality?
All the items I have purchased from Uniqlo to date are excellent. Even after washing several times and wearing frequently, most items still look new, and even after two or three years in the closet, the pieces don't look old.finished".
The prices are also great, especially for the fabrics. The HEATTECH line has thermal shirts for less than €15, and even the shirts that are 100% merino wool, despite being thin, cost less than €30. The most expensive items are the super light coats, but I've had mine for 8 years and it's still perfect, so the price is more than worth the quality.
I highly recommend Uniqlo, and I visit the store whenever I'm in a city that has a physical store for the brand. In Japan, there is the largest Uniqlo in the world, with 8 floors!
Where to buy Uniqlo?
There are no Uniqlo stores in Latin America yet, but you can find the brand in North America, Europe and Asia. Some popular destinations with physical stores are Orlando, New York, Paris, London, Madrid and Rome.
It is worth remembering that, although it is possible to order online in almost all European countries, there is still no physical Uniqlo store in Portugal.
Conclusion
As you can see from my review, Uniqlo is worth buying. The pieces are excellent, with high quality, and can withstand several washes and seasonal changes.
If you pass by a Uniqlo on your next trip, don't miss it!
And you, did you already know the brand? Do you have any parts? Tell me in the comments!