SINGAPORE - Uniqlo's launch of its latest clothing collection designed with German fashion designer Jil Sander attracted long queues at its flagship outlet in Orchard Central on Friday (Nov 20).

About 160 people were seen queueing up at around 10.30am before the store opened at 11am.

The +J Fall/Winter 2020 collection marks the second time Uniqlo has collaborated with Ms Sander since 2009.

Mr Calvin Ong, who was the 25th person to join the line when he arrived at around 9.30am, said: "I have waited for around a decade for the return of this collaboration, her clothing is usually very expensive."

The fashion consultant in his late 40s, who bought three shirts and two belts, chose to visit the shop because it was easier to gauge the size of the clothing in person.

Each customer was limited to purchasing five items.

A 26-year-old engineer who wanted to be known as Ms Feng took leave to queue up for the launch, which she had been anticipating since it sold out on Chinese online shopping portal Taobao on Nov 3.

"My flatmate started queueing at around 8am with her boyfriend. I 'replaced' her boyfriend when I joined at around 10.30am and got his queue number 12," said Ms Feng.

The five-year fan of Uniqlo was unable to purchase clothing online when she attempted to between 8.30 am and 9am.
Uniqlo had announced on social media that the collection would be online for purchase by 9am.

"Many of the smaller sizes sold out very quickly. I was always stuck at the online check out," added Ms Feng.

Responding to queries from the Straits Times, Uniqlo said that high volume of online traffic and server refresh time caused their shopping page to go live later than 9am for a few customers. It said it had upgraded its server capacity and in a 8pm update, the brand's spokesman said traffic was stable.

At around 12pm, about 180 people were seen queuing up to purchase the clothing.

The queue was still present as of 4pm.

To ensure safe-distancing, queue numbers and entry tickets were issued and a maximum of 20 customers were allowed into the +J shopping area at each time, said the spokesman.

Some items are also available in selected stores but, in anticipation of further demand, stocks are being consolidated from smaller stores and placed in the flagship store to ensure availability, he added.

Accessories such as belts were mostly sold out as of 8pm, with the men's and women's Supima cotton oversized shirts flying off the racks.