Uniqlo announces collaboration with Jil Sander

Celebrated German designer Jil Sander has been lured out of retirement by high street chain Uniqlo.

Japanese high street chain Uniqlo today announced it has entered into a collaboration with the celebrated designer Jil Sander. Sander, who developed a huge female fan base in the mid '90s with her minimalist aesthetic, has been greatly missed since leaving her eponymous label in 2004.

According to a statement issued by the company today, Sander will be personally involved in "all aspects of the design and making of the Uniqlo men's and women's wear products for global retail", with the possibility of a future stand-alone Jil Sander collection for the brand.

This will come as good news to Sander's legion of followers. Since quitting her label - for the second time - in 2004 following a dispute with Prada, which then owned a majority stake in her label, she has kept a low profile. Since 2005, the Jil Sander brand has been designed by Raf Simons, to critical acclaim.

See catwalk pictures from the Jil Sander autumn/winter 2009 fashion show

uniqlo.com

Pictures: An image from the spring/summer Uniqlo advertising campaign, left, and Jil Sander, right