Ex-Marni creative director teams up with Uniqlo for new summer collection

The collection includes Oxford shirt - (Uniqlo)

Francesco Risso is the fashion mogul whose work includes eight years designing womenswear at Prada plus nearly a decade at Marni, where his penchant for bold clashing patterns, bright colours and textural intrigue put the brand front and centre for fashion that doesn’t take itself too seriously. He was recently appointed global creative director at GU, sister brand to Uniqlo.

His signature flair has been applied to a capsule collection with the Japanese clothing giant under the moniker F.risso, with more than 40 items of clothing and accessories across menswear and womenswear.

This isn’t his first foray with Uniqlo, having previously designed the Marni x Uniqlo collaboration for spring/summer 2022 that saw core pieces flying off the shelves. I still see a certain flower patterned shirt during the summer time nearly four years later. With a mixture of Risso’s bold and unexpected patterning plus some wearable basics that will be very familiar to the Uniqlo customer, this new collection feels like it might be the first in a line of Risso-led Uniqlo collections and I’m quite excited to see what else he’ll do.

The long Bermuda shorts are bound to be a hit, plus I can’t wait to get my hands on the oversized Oxford shirt with button details. There’s a grey and acid yellow, as well as a familiar royal blue floral print version that has echoes of the popular Marni collab. The women’s pieces have similar patterns in blouses and billowing dresses and, as with all of Uniqlo’s designer collections, prices are accessible, with shirts between £30 and £35, dresses under £40 and shorts for £30. The collection is made for pattern clashing and trying a new colour, so I left my monochrome minimalism at the door.

I got my hands on the collection ahead of its launch – here’s everything I tried on, plus my verdict on whether the collection is worth snapping up.

What to shop from Uniqlo x F.RISSO

Broad shirt

This bold yellow shirt with a notched collar and grey two-tone square pattern all over has a 70s nod that Risso often incorporates into his designs. The 100 per cent cotton fabric is pleasingly lightweight and soft on the skin, and completely unobtrusive on a stifling summer day. If the colour feels daring, pair with some of the neutral shorts or tone it down with a formal trouser. There is also a grey version, but I say opt for the bold. This is a fun option for summer parties, or even a wedding evening look with a blazer over the top.

Buy now £29.9, Uniqlo.com

Unisex pleated shorts

Coming in grey and black, these shorts have a slight vintage silhouettte to them thanks to the soft pleats. I can see these fitting into lots of summer wardrobes. They’re a cotton and recycled polyamide mix, with the polyamide creating a bit of stiffness and shape. There’s also a very subtle sheen that lends a technical, sporty edge. They are breezy for when the summer really kicks in and cost less than £30. It’s worth noting that I am 6’2” and they come up quite short, this is fine for me but might put some people off.

Buy now £29.9, Uniqlo.com

Wide shorts

With very similar material composition to the pleated shorts, these longer shorts have the same semi-technical fabric feel. They’re very comfortable, with an elasticated waist and drawstring ties. There’s also so much room thanks to the wide cut, which allows for a lot of movement. Paired with the bright yellow shirt, they feels borderline office-wear, but there are plenty of styling options available for this style of shorts. One subtle detail is the back pockets, one of which is much lower down the leg. They come in black, off-white and a camel brown.

Buy now £29.9, Uniqlo.com

Oxford oversized shirt

Although I didn’t try this one out in person, I love the oversized cut and colour options available. The acid yellow paired with greens and light grey are unique, plus the bright blue harks back to Risso’s first Marni collection for Uniqlo. The button sleeve detail is a fun styling feature, too. The composition is 60 per cent cotton with 40 per cent viscose, so I’m imagining a soft texture that will bring movement.

Buy now £34.9, Uniqlo.com

Bow tie dress

There are several dress and skirt options for women including this brown patterned bow tie dress, which has a distinct 70s vibe. With adjustable bow details, this is a fun summer option.

Buy now £39.9, Uniqlo.com

Balloon gathered midi skirt

This balloon-silhouette skirt has a net lining for good air flow during hot summer days. It comes in a rich camel brown and a classic black.

Buy now £34.9, Uniqlo.com

When does Uniqlo x F.RISSO launch?

The Uniqlo x F.RISSO collection launches in the UK on Thursday 18 June at 7am.

Is the Uniqlo x F.RISSO collection worth it?

Overall this is a solid collection that’s equal parts fun and shoppable. With prices ranging between £20 and £40, this is an affordable set of summer staples with unique designs and fun, bold colour options. There are some polo shirts and blouses that aren’t particularly to my taste and can probably be found at lots of high street shops, but there are a good amount of original designs and prints to make this worth dipping into.

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