I Design Modest Clothing—These Are the Questions I Get Asked All the Time

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As part of an ongoing partnership, British-born fashion designer Hana Tajima teamed up with Uniqlo to design a modest F/W 20 collection that was released today. Her designs experiment with elegant silhouettes that are intentionally non-restrictive and comfortable. Part of this comfort comes from the pieces themselves—the collection is stocked with items like breezy wide-cut pants, loose button-down tops, and flowy dresses in an array of rich neutrals like sage green, cream, and rust. The other part comes in from using Uniqlo’s innovative fabrics like AIRism that has the technology to wick moisture and release heat, all while providing UV protection. That technology is exactly how Tajima is able to design a layering piece like a turtleneck that can stay cool and be worn year-round.

Tajima’s collection for Uniqlo isn’t just about modest clothes though, it’s about clothing that can allow the person wearing it to express personal identity and confidence. “We women are constantly adapting to change. I want clothing that is always a part of myself, items that are able to shift freely and easily from one style to something else,” Tajima said in a press release. “While retaining comfort, by focusing on form over decoration, I want these clothes to redefine what it is to be feminine. To let our own personal stories be the stories we wear.”

Interested to find out more about the collection, we spoke with Hana Tajima. Ahead, learn about where Tajima looks for design inspiration, her top styling tips, and see which pieces she’s already wearing.

Where do you get inspiration for your designs?

“Long answer is that I’m really interested in the way that clothes are both the expression of something very esoteric and something outside of ourselves but the form in which they present is this very tangible, human thing that we can all understand. And so, the interplay of those two things is very exciting to me and very interesting because I do think that clothes powerful—they can change the way we think and the way we think about ourselves. So, that is the main inspiration on why I do what I do.”

“But simple answer is that sometimes I’ll see someone with a sense of style that I think is really intriguing and through the process of trying to figure out why I think it’s so interesting, that inspires me to want to make things.”

“This dress is an example of a method of construction I’ve been experimenting with.”

Shop the look:

Uniqlo Rayon Long-Sleeve Shirt Dress ($50)

Uniqlo Airism UV Protection High-Neck Long-Sleeve T-Shirt ($15)

Which colors go well together?

“For colors that go well together, especially ones that you’re wearing, either what you can do is just go full-on head-to-toe in one color—doesn’t matter how bright it is, you know it’s going to match because it’s the same color. Or keep your based pretty neutral, so darks, blacks, and blues, with a pop of color or neutrals…with then a little pop of color. Because if you just have a really neutral base with a little pop of color, you know that’s going to work.”

“This set in this color is something I’ve been wearing a lot. The texture of the cotton is dreamy.”

Shop the look:

Uniqlo Cotton Dobby Half-Sleeve Shirt ($40)

Uniqlo Seersucker Pants ($40)

What are your tips for dressing if you’re shorter?

“Tips for dressing shorter—which I am—it’s really just about balance and proportion. So that might mean if you’re shorter, higher waistlines to give you a little extra length in your leg, but whatever size you are, whatever height you are, the most important thing is that your clothes fit you. So, make friends with a tailor, find someone that you trust, someone that’s really good at what they do, or learn to do it yourself.”