Upon the familiar melody of Norwegian Wood by The Beatles, an older Toru Watanabe reminisced the love and loss of his past life, so told by the acclaimed Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Also with the title Norwegian Wood, the 1987 novel published during a time when Japan’s mighty economic power shriveled as its bubble economy collapsed. Faced with uncertainty, a “new” Japan at the time found resonance is Murakami’s intricately weaved tale. Now, two decades later, the book that transformed Murakami’s writing career is finally on the silver screen thanks to French director Tran Anh Hung. In part to the film’s debut this month, Japanese apparel label UNIQLO created a limited graphic t-shirt collection for its UT line. Designed by artist Masahiro Kakinokihara, the graphics imprinted on the tees not only present scenes from the film. But Kakinokihara’s keen senses of Scandinavian design render a weighted simplicity to the graphics themselves. The UNIQLO x Haruki Murakami – Norwegian Wood T–Shirts Collection is currently available at select UNIQLO locations across Japan.

UNIQLO UT Harajuku
6-10-8 Jingumae | Map
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Japan

During its temporary stint at the former Deitch Project space on 18 Wooster Street, Levi’s Photo Workshop was like a Godsend to New York City’s thousands of photographers, amateur and professional alike. Its spacious locale and available equipments were more than ideal for a great photoshoot while its community driven workshops help those who are aspired. Before they packed up the vintage Leica cameras and Profoto light stands, the space organized a last send off party before its official closing. Together with developer of Hipstamatic, a versatile photo app for iPhone, which will mimic all forms of films, flashes, and lens, Levi’s Photo Workshop hosted the Holiday Hipstaland Event right before Christmas. A complete range of gears, even settings for quirky Christmas photos, on-site makeup artist, to fake snow, were provided; the only things event goers have to provide were themselves, their subjects, and a vivid imagination.

Relaxed, and a chic disheveled look which says “I care enough, but not too much”, Daiki Suzuki rolls out another winning season of American great with Engineered Garments (even though Suzuki will no longer be in charged of Woolrich Woolen Mills). Spring/Summer 2011 sports a collection of artfully crinkled vintage-looking floral blazers, safari inspired olive button downs, shorts to go with the blazers and printed zip-up hooded jackets in washed Hawaiian prints for a sportier, outdoor look befitting a Sunday of lazy fishing. Everything is cut for comfort, and trousers are no longer precariously fitting. Think Allan Quatermain meet American workwear, and you will get just about the idea.

Style and function, the aspiration of most fashion labels when it comes to designing for their male clientele. Yet, they often failed during the last stage of the creative process, the execution. There is, however, no need of such worries at label J.Lindeberg. First with Johan Lindeberg and now with Pierangelo D’Agostin at the helm, the label’s pragmatic approach to fashion is like that secret formula to IKEA’s lingonberry sauce – one part sweetness, two part tartness and a dash of bitter. Oh but don’t mistaken it for conservatism in design concept. What is tested and true does not automatically equate to staleness, like J.Lindeberg’s Dreyden Soft Tech Wool Blazer. In the familiar grey flannel, the Dreyden Blazer is, on appearance, like any blazer till you roll up the lapel or pocket flaps, all to reveal a thin stripe of reflective tape. The fact is D’Agostin created a blazer for the urban commuters, those who travel not by car but a mixture of mass transit and bicycle. The inner lining is a mesh composite to wick moisture and heat while discreetly placed vents speed up the cooling process. After all, no “Master of the Universe” need to look like they went through a Midtown traffic jam. To avoid all sorts of entanglements with their steed of choice, the hem and cuffs can be roll up with ease. Comes with a matching suit pants with all the bells and whistles, the J.Lindeberg Dreyden Soft Tech Wool Blazer will be available as part of the label’s spring and summer 2011 collection.

Despite his modest mannerism, designer Thom Browne is still able to stir up quite a controversy with his designs. Many of his detractors critique on the “kidish” silhouettes as virtually unwearable. Some even go as far as accusing Browne on skimping on materials while valuing his clothing at premium prices. Perhaps this is Browne’s way of appeasing his critics? For Holiday 2010, Browne is introducing his take of the venerable varsity jacket, or as its known in some circle as the stadium jacket. Premium leather sleeves along with the finest melton wool, the Thom Browne Stadium Jacket is lined with an all-cotton Seersucker lining, unlike the quilted polyester variant found on some its peers. Minimal branding on its back in the form of a tricolor tab, the jacket’s most visible attribute is its length. Instead of the normal length, the hemline ends at 3/4, makes it more in par with overcoat and trench. Perhaps this is the way Browne appeases his critics?

Not since Star Wars’ C-3PO and R2-D2 have so many gushed over a “robot”, for the holiday season, Japanese retailer MUJI and Barcelona-base creative agency Carlitos Y Patricia unleashed the MUJI Noel Machine onto the pedestrian mall of Rambla Catalunya in Barcelona. From wooden toy blocks to the Yosegi Kendama, a traditional Japanese toy, the machine is stocked with 18 delectable goodies from both MUJI’s Japanese and European collections. Of course some die-hard robotica fans would be disappointed to know there is a person handing out the purchase via a slot. Still it is nice to know there are last minute options for us procrastinators out there.