Cate Blanchett and the clothing brand Uniqlo have announced the launch of "Stories She Tells," a literary magazine dedicated to women's perspectives. The project, which is scheduled to debut in autumn 2027, is a collaboration with the University of Tokyo.
The Autumn 2027 Debut of 'Stories She Tells' and the Theme of Connection
According to Uniqlo’s release, the inaugural issue of "Stories She Tells" will center on the theme of "Connection," exploring the shared experiences and individual stories that bind people within society. This is not a typical brand lookbook; the publication is designed as a literary magazine featuring essays that highlight women’s experiences and perspectives through storytelling.
The project aims to foster new dialogue across different generations and genders. To ensure the publication has intellectual depth, Uniqlo plans to include academic research papers and literary works alongside the essays, moving the brand's editorial efforts into a more scholarly territory.
How the University of Tokyo and Eiko Sherba are Integrating Academic Research
The initiative is launching through a strategic partnership with the University of Tokyo, with plans to expand to other universities globally. Eiko Sherba, the sustainability marketing director for Uniqlo , explained that the brand wanted to build the program with a solid academic understanding of gender issues and women’s empowerment rather than approaching it from a purely corporate standpoint.
This academic framing allows the project to tap into the energy of young people and students. as reported by WWD, the partnership is intended to be mutually beneficial, providing students with a platform to engage in a global initiative while providing the magazine with rigorous intellectual grounding.
Cate Blanchett’s Conversations with Koji Yanai on Mainstream Female Expression
The concept for the magaziine emerged from a year of discussions between Cate Blanchett and Koji Yanai, the group senior executive officer of Fast Retailing (Uniqlo’s parent company). Blanchett told WWD that the project grew from their shared love of literature and a mutual desire to highlight art forms that the broader community often cannot access.
Blanchett pointed out a stark disparity in the cultural landscape, noting that while women make up over half of the global population, their stories are frequently excluded from the mainstream. By leveraging Uniqlo’s massive global reach, Blanchett and Yanai intend to engender confidence in female literary expression and bring marginalized voices to a wider audience.
From Mieko Kawakami to Clarice Lispector : The Literary DNA of the Project
During a press conference at the University of Tokyo, Cate Blanchett signaled the magazine's high-brow aspirations by reading passages from Clarice Lispector’s "Belonging" and Mieko Kawakami’s novel "Breasts and Eggs." These authors represent the kind of literary influence Blanchett hopes the magazine will embody.
Blanchett spoke about her own analog habits, recalling how her late friend, Australian author Frank Moorhouse, used a card-catalog system to save inspirations . she emphasized the importance of the written word as a way to invite people to "slow down" and connect, a philosophy that stands in contrast to the rapid pace of modern digital consumption and the fast-fashion industry.
Who will be the select contributors receiving mentorship and writing support?
While the project promises that select contributors will receive mentorship and support for their writing activities, the source does not specify the criteria for selection or the nature of the financial or professional support provided. It remains unclear whether these contributors will be recruited primarily from the University of Tokyo or if there will be an open global call for submissions.
Additionally, while the project emphasizes "diverse voices," the report focuses heavily on the partnership with a single elite institution. It is yet to be seen how "Stories She Tells" will balance its academic prestige with the goal of reaching a "broader community" that typically lacks access to such art forms.
Comments 0