The much-anticipated KAWS × UNIQLO Winter 2025 Knitwear Collection revealed a striking chapter in the partnership between the contemporary artist KAWS (Brian Donnelly) and the global retailer UNIQLO. Launched in late November 2025, the collection marked KAWS’s first release under his new role as UNIQLO’s Artist in Residence, building on a collaboration history that dates back to 2017.

Crafted around winter essentials, the lineup included premium cashmere crew-necks, lambswool pieces, and a full suite of HEATTECH accessories; beanies, scarves, gloves, plus kids’ versions in Soufflé Yarn. Each item featured subtle yet unmistakable KAWS motifs: the “XX” mark and the iconic COMPANION character embroidered discreetly on chest or cuff. The design approach leaned into everyday wearability, merging UNIQLO’s minimalist LifeWear ethos with KAWS’s pop-culture visual vocabulary.

The colour palette held seasonal-ready tones; reds, greens, mustard, navy and classic blacks/off-white, across both adult and kids sizing. The adults’ cashmere sweater and lambswool variants were paired with HEATTECH gloves and scarves in matching hues; the kids’ line featured fun, soft Soufflé Yarn knits in sizes from age 3 upwards.

Beyond fabrics and fits, the drop represented a strategic elevation of the KAWS-UNIQLO collaboration: with the artist’s residency in full effect, the collection felt less like a graphic tee capsule and more like a curated knitwear offering that speaks to both street-culture fans and everyday consumers. It aimed to capture a balance of hype and utility- welcoming drop energy while staying rooted in wearable fundamentals.