If you’ve ever packed for a winter weekend away, you’ll know the pressures that can be placed upon the restrictive baggage allowance of a budget airline by the thick thermals and wool jumpers that are called for when the temperatures plunge. But have you ever noticed that the smartest people on the plane breeze through bag drop, unbothered by weighty woolies? The secret? They’re happily living that hand luggage life thanks to the modern marvel that is Uniqlo’s HEATTECH, the ultimate in thin yet warm layering and the key to keeping your own sense of style no matter the season.
In the bad old days, thermal layers meant long johns and vests that, while admittedly cosy, would do nothing for your fashion credentials – unless you’re a fan of the baggy, saggy silhouette that is. But thanks to extensive product development (we’re talking more than 10,000 prototypes here), in HEATTECH Uniqlo has created the ultimate underlayer, keeping you warm while going pretty much undetected.
Of course, HEATTECH itself isn’t new, in fact it’s more than two decades old, but Uniqlo’s adherence to kaizen, the Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement, has allowed the product range to expand beyond a simple base layer to something akin to a way of life of its own, with disciples in all walks of life.
Just take the fashion crowd, for example. If there’s one thing the street style set knows, it’s how best to show off an expertly curated outfit. That means ditching the coat or cover-up for the cameras, no matter how cold it is. But shivering is never chic, and as the main fashion shows fall in the shoulder seasons (February and September), looking cool in the cold is no mean feat.
Front row fashionistas have it figured out though, with a not-so-secret weapon in the form of a whole wardrobe of HEATTECH garments. Ultra warm leggings are invisible under the season’s must-have straight leg jeans. A spaghetti-strapped camisole peeks out under a lace-trimmed slip dress and shrugged-off cardigan to nail autumn’s trend for undone elegance. The brand’s extra warm cashmere blend turtleneck is so chic it can hide in plain sight paired with oversized tailoring.
It’s an approach that lends itself to similarly stylish real world activities, too – if you’ve got a winter wedding in the diary and are already worrying about what to wear as you get from ceremony to reception, HEATTECH is almost definitely the answer to unlocking a new way to wear something that’s already in your wardrobe without adding bulk. And its stretch properties mean you’ll still be able to throw shapes on the dancefloor at the evening do.
That versatility goes for day-to-day dressing too. In fact, thanks to HEATTECH, the ceremonial switch from your summer to autumn wardrobe can be a thing of the past. Layer your favourite summer dresses over tights and an extra warm crewneck T-shirt, and pair with boots or trainers for an outfit you’ll want to repeat all the way through autumn. If you favour the suited and booted look for work, experiment with an extra warm cashmere blend turtleneck instead of your usual shirt and tie.
Commuting in the colder months can bring its own particular set of challenges – and no we’re not talking about leaves on the line or whole cities coming to a standstill at the first sign of snow. From the brisk walk to the station, waiting on a windswept platform before packing into the 07.23 fast train, to travel by public transport is to experience a whistlestop tour through extremes of temperature. Cleverly, HEATTECH’s innovative fibre technology is designed to wick away moisture to avoid the clamminess that can come with cotton clothing as temperatures rise.
This moisture-wicking ability makes HEATTECH the secret weapon in your underwear drawer too. Snug and stretchy ultra warm tights under your jeans will keep you warm in the great outdoors whether you’re walking the dog or pushing the swings on playground duty. While on the sidelines at Saturday sports for the kids or in the stands watching your beloved football team, HEATTECH socks can stave off the foot-stamping and frozen toes that usually come with being a sports spectator through the winter. While a pair of frilly crew socks are the perfect ankle sock to balance out a mannish pair of loafers and jeans.
Their use at home can’t be overlooked either – if rising energy costs are already making you worry about how you’ll keep warm this winter without heating the whole house, forget stockpiling blankets: now is the time to diversify your sock portfolio. When the mercury plummets, knee high socks will keep you toasty all day as you work from home and they’re still thin and stretchy enough to wear with trainers or boots should you need to nip out.
When Uniqlo launched its Heart of Lifewear initiative to mark the brand’s 40th anniversary in 2024, it donated more than one million items of HEATTECH thermal clothing to refugees, children, disaster victims, and other people in difficult situations around the world to make their lives a little more comfortable. Uniqlo has followed it up this year with the same commitment and by the end of 2025 will have donated an additional one million more items to vulnerable people globally, with around half of this assistance going to refugees returning to Syria.
Style it out – and stay cosy. Shop the Uniqlo HEATTECH collection
