American artist KAWS, who has been collaborating with UNIQLO since 2016, is stepping into an entirely new kind of relationship with the brand — Brian Donnelly has officially been named UNIQLO’s first artist-in-residence. In the role, he’ll oversee in-store art events and global brand initiatives, work directly with UNIQLO’s ambassadors and museum partners, and take part in shaping the brand’s upcoming collections. The first collection produced under his new title will launch as part of the fall-winter 2025 season.
The residency goes well beyond a one-off design partnership: Donnelly’s responsibilities will also include developing creative concepts from the ground up, sharing ideas across the brand, and scouting future collaborations — a far more embedded role than the collaborations that have defined his nine-year relationship with UNIQLO so far.