All Entries Tagged With: "Uniqlo"

Giant Vending Machine? More Like Giant Disappointment.

Talk about over-exaggeration. I made my way uptown to Times Square yesterday to check out what I thought was going to be thousands of people crowded around dozens of astronaut-esque Uniqlo employees at the HeatTech human vending machine to get their free merchandise. Well, lets just say the invitation was more exciting then the actual event. There were probably only 100 people in line, the heat scanner (which Uniqlo made a big deal about) was barely used, the silver suit-wearing dudes were few and far between. the actual vending machines were barely larger than a handicapped port-o-potty, and the “robots” inside the machines were simply amateur dancers waiting for their paycheck. It’s nice that they gave everyone free merchandise, but when I looked at my HeatTech, I had to laugh…it was a HeatTech camisole. I don’t know anyone whose torso gets cold but not their arms! All in all, I would have rather taken that $4 I wasted on the subway trip and used it to buy four bottles of White Rain hairspray. 

Human Vending Machine. Times Square. Free Shit. What Could Be Better?

The title basically sums it up. Those three things induce my self prescribed ADD, make me forget about the real pressing issues in this crazy world, and force me to plan out my November 18th, the day I skip philosophy class to get some free Uniqlo crap in Times Square. Uniqlo will be hosting a promotion featuring its new Heat Tech innerwear by giving thousands of sets away for FREE! This is what a Uniqlo rep had to say about the upcoming promotion:

“Basically we’re going to have two mimes. A male and a female mime inside the machine. And the public can see them through glass. When you get there, we’re going to have Uniqlo reps dressed in the silver bodysuits. And they’re going to hold a thermograph scanner — think of an airport security machine. The thermographer identifies cold spots in your body. After you go through that, you go to the vending machine and push a button and the mimes are going to do a synchronized choreographed routine and then your outfit comes out.”

No more spending 25 cents to watch stale gum-balls spiral down vending machines in the local mall. Now I get to watch mimes in silver suits dance and give me free crap. AWESOME.

Thanks NY Mag!

Move Over American Apparel…We Have Alternatives!

The wall of basics at Uniqlo.

A photo from the Alternative Apparel website.

Sample screened hoodies from Neighborhoodie.

Sick of going to American Apparel for all of your basic fashion items? Not thrilled about paying $50+ for a simple thermal sweatshirt? Well, worry no more! We’ve found three great stores that sell the essential basics like cardigans, leggings, v-necks, pants and tank tops for more affordable prices and even better quality!

For those natives of Soho, you are bound to have seen the enormous Uniqlo on Broadway. This Japanese store carries every basic your hearts desire. Just look inside and you’ll see the walls covered, from ceiling to floor, with a rainbow of tees, sweaters, pants and accessories. Also, be sure to check out the wall of unique graphic tees!

Alternative Apparel is a big contender when it comes to the basics. Carrying a wide variety of shirts (henleys, baseball tees, v-necks etc.) American Apparel has met its match with these high quality garments. The prices are a bit steep for the basics, but with Alternative Apparel, you get what you pay for!

If you are looking for a bit of creative leeway, check out Neighborhoodie. Here, you can purchase your basics and throw in a screen-print of a funny phrase or image to spice it up. Have the urge to broadcast your hate for John McCain? Want to tell the world that “I’m With Stupid’s Wife”? Go for it! Neighborhoodie is your oyster! 

Visit Uniqlo, Alternative Apparel and Neighborhoodie for online shopping and store locations!

Robots: The Future of Retail

Welcome to the future of shopping…stores no longer require greeters, cuz now there are…ROBOTS!!!!

Totally not kidding, a robot named Wakamaru will be the first of it’s kind, and just got hired by Uniqlo to be their front door greeter for the second week of Sept at the SoHo store. The robot, designed by Toshiyuki Kita and developed by Mitsubishi gets its name from a famous 12th century warrior, which means at any point during the day he might “malfunction” and take a katana blade to your acheles tendon if you don’t walk out with an Uniqlo bag.

Wakamaru will greet guests, make eye contact, recognize people, have arm movements, lead staff in motivational morning exercises (wait is this Walmart) and communicate promotions to customers.

What’s next? Robots helping me in the dressing room, recording me as I undress, getting uncomforably close with his hot robotic breath…

Sorry picked up some hentai last night. What was I writing about again…

Uniqlo’s Annual T-Shirt Design Contest

UNIQLO’s annual UT Grand Prix t-shirt design contest is officially underway, and we know there must be some of you out there wanting to get in on the chance to win the 3,000,000 yen first prize (that’s about $30,000).

The winner’s design will also be sold in UNIQLO stores worldwide, in addition to bragging rights for the season of Fall 08.

You can get all the details and fill out the application here until September 21st.

So submit your designs, and we might write about you one day…

The Decapitator Strikes!!!

So I officially have a new hero. He goes by the moniker “The Decapitator”. He’s a street artist that has destroyed some of the most annoying ad campaigns the city has ever seen. He’s attacked Carrie Bradshaw, Kermit the Frog, the Uniqlo “cool kids”, and Ashley Tisdale of High School Musical. He may be my best friend. You can catch up with his work on his Flickr account.

I wonder if I can order a hit or two on some more of my least favorite people?

Gossip Girls and The Hills if you reading Decapitator.