UNIQLO Philippines Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Board Osamu Ikezoe, Creative Art Director Wilson Limon, Itneg School of Living Tradition in Abra Cultural Master Luis Agaid Jr, Panay Bukidnon School of Living Tradition in Iloilo Cultural Master Regina Villanueva, T’boli School of Living Tradition in South Cotabato Cultural Master Edna Mofak, UNIQLO Philippines Marketing Director Jan Jizelle Ang, UNIQLO Philippines Chief Operating Officer Geraldine Sia, celebrate the launch of the RE.UNIQLO Special Artisan Patches, showcasing Filipino artistry through handcrafted embroidery while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for artisan communities.
All proceeds go back to the artisan communities behind each handcrafted designs.
In the spirit of the 70th Friendship Year between the Philippines and Japan, UNIQLO breathes new life into LifeWear items, while celebrating Filipino craftsmanship at its finest, with Re.UNIQLO Studio’s Special Artisan Patches. More than decorative pieces, the designs carry the stories of artisan communities nationwide to help keep their time-honored traditions alive.
Re.UNIQLO Studio serves as the brand’s in-store sustainability initiative designed to extend the lifespan of LifeWear items through repair, recycling, and embroidery services. Its Special Artisan Patches reimagines Filipino heritage, in collaboration with artist and art director Wilson Limon, along with local artisan communities. Handcrafted by indigenous artisans, these patches apply traditional embroidery techniques to transform Re.UNIQLO fabric scraps into symbols of heritage and sustainability.
The collection takes inspiration from different ethnolinguistic groups from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, celebrating the distinct identities of the country’s three major island groups through embroidery that carries the stories of nature and community behind each design. Each island group is represented through designs created by artisan communities whose craft has been passed down through generations. In Luzon, Itneg weavers from Abra reinterpret nature through embroidered motifs alongside geometric patterns, animals, and human figures that carry personal and communal narratives. The Visayas designs feature Panay Bukidnon artisans from Iloilo, whose Panubok embroidery is deeply rooted in nature, oral traditions, and ancestral beliefs. Completing the collection are the Mindanao patches by T’boli weavers from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, whose motifs draw from mountains, wildlife, and dream imagery that reflect both everyday life and enduring spiritual traditions.
The Luzon patches showcases the craftsmanship of Itneg weavers from Abra, blending nature-inspired embroidery with geometric patterns, animals, and human figures that reflect stories shared within families and communities.
Visayas patches featuring the artistry of Panay Bukidnon Weavers (Iloilo) through traditional Panubok embroidery, showcasing symbolic patterns rooted in nature, oral traditions, and ancestral beliefs.
Representing Mindanao, T’boli Weavers from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato bring intricate motifs inspired by nature, mountains, wildlife, and dream imagery, reflecting the community’s rich cultural traditions and way of life.
Through RE.UNIQLO, these stories become something you can carry with you every day. The Special Artisan Patches are available at selected UNIQLO stores nationwide, allowing customers to personalize their favorite LifeWear pieces with designs rooted in Filipino heritage. Simply bring a well-loved UNIQLO item or purchase a new one in-store, choose your preferred artisan patch and placement, and have it sewn onto your piece for Php 300, inclusive of the embroidery service.
The Special Artisan Patches are available at the following participating stores:
- UNIQLO Manila Global Flagship Store
- UNIQLO SM Mall of Asia
- UNIQLO Bonifacio High Street
- UNIQLO SM North EDSA
- UNIQLO SM Megamall
- UNIQLO Greenhills
- UNIQLO Nuvali
- UNIQLO Ayala Center Cebu
- UNIQLO SM Seaside City Cebu
- UNIQLO SM Davao
- UNIQLO Davao Roadside Store
- UNIQLO SM Lanang Premier
Aside from championing heritage and sustainability, Re.UNIQLO’s Special Artisan Patches also hope to deliver social impact to its partner communities by keeping Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs) alive. Proceeds from the sale of every patch directly support Schools of Living Traditions (SLT), in partnership with the ABS-CBN Foundation. SLT is the community-based educational program established in 1995 by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. It’s designed to safeguard and pass on ISKPs, including arts, crafts, oral traditions, rituals, and music, to the younger generation, protecting them from fading in the shadow of modernization.
By showcasing the designs and stories of local artisan communities, Re.UNIQLO’s Special Artisan Patches take representation to the next level. The project helps these communities preserve their cultural identities for generations to come, making each patch as meaningful as it is beautifully designed. Moreover, the initiative proves that Re.UNIQLO can also become an avenue for anyone to participate in sustainability and community empowerment through everyday choices.
Wear the design and support the story of each Re.UNIQLO Special Artisan Patch at participating Re.UNIQLO Studios in UNIQLO stores nationwide.Learn more about UNIQLO Philippines’ sustainability initiatives by visiting www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/ and following @uniqlo on Facebook, @uniqlophofficial on Instagram, and @uniqlophofficial on TikTok.
