Global apparel retailer UNIQLO has today launched its highly anticipated debut collaboration with Japanese cult label NEEDLES, with the collection now available in stores and online. The collection unites UNIQLO’s renowned high-quality fleece manufacturing with the refined aesthetic vision of NEEDLES founder and designer Keizo Shimizu, a quietly influential figure in fashion who established NEPENTHES in Tokyo’s Jingumae neighbourhood in 1988, before founding NEEDLES in 1995. The brand has since earned a devoted global following among serious fashion enthusiasts worldwide.
The capsule comprises three genderless fleece pieces, a Full-Zip Jacket, an Oversized Cardigan and Wide Pants, each offered in a palette of black, grey, beige and purple. Drawing on vintage 1970s references, NEEDLES’s signature stripe patterns and an elegant straight-leg silhouette, every piece balances simplicity with the kind of considered detail that has made NEEDLES a staple of discerning wardrobes for three decades. The result is a collection that lets craftsmanship and silhouette speak for themselves.
Commenting on the collaboration, Keizo Shimizu said: “By adding the butterfly motif and silhouette to give UNIQLO’s signature fleece a NEEDLES feel, we have created iconic and special items. We look forward to bringing the world of NEEDLES to a wider audience through this collaboration.” It is a sentiment that captures exactly what makes this partnership compelling — not a clash of identities, but a genuine creative dialogue between two brands who share a deep respect for quality and restraint.
For longtime NEEDLES admirers, this is a rare opportunity to access the brand’s world at an accessible price point, while UNIQLO loyalists will find a fresh and elevated take on a beloved wardrobe staple. The UNIQLO and NEEDLES Fleece Collection is available from today, 23 April 2026, in UNIQLO stores across Australia and at uniqlo.com.
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