Uniqlo and Cate Blanchett Launch First Literary Magazine, Stories She Tells, With University of Tokyo

Uniqlo and global brand ambassador Cate Blanchett have launched "Stories She Tells," the brand's first literary magazine, with the inaugural issue scheduled for autumn 2027. Yahoo reported the launch, which Uniqlo announced in a release.

How the Stories She Tells Magazine Works

The magazine will feature essays highlighting women's experiences and perspectives through storytelling. Uniqlo said the project "aims to share diverse voices and perspectives across genders and generations, fostering new dialogue and connections." The theme of the first issue is "Connection," covering connections between people, shared experience, and each person's story within society.

Essays will be selected through an open call, with Blanchett chairing the selection committee. Select contributors will receive support for their writing activities and opportunities for mentorship. The magazine will also include academic research papers and literary works related to the theme.

The project runs through a partnership with the University of Tokyo and aims to expand globally through partnerships with universities around the world. At a press conference at the university, Blanchett appeared with two students, Kaori Hayashi, executive vice president and professor at the university, and writer and poet Mieko Kawakami. Blanchett read passages from Kawakami's novel "Breasts and Eggs" and Clarice Lispector's "Belonging."

Blanchett said the project grew out of conversations with Koji Yanai, group senior executive officer of Uniqlo's parent Fast Retailing and son of founder Tadashi Yanai. "We started talking about shared passions, probably about a year ago," she said. "And we were talking about different forms of expression."

Eiko Sherba, sustainability marketing director for Uniqlo, said the university partnership was meant to bring an academic perspective. "It is partly about women's voices, but we also wanted to make more use of young people's energy," Sherba said.

Uniqlo's Recent Partnerships and Launches

According to akta.pro company records, Uniqlo signed a five-year naming rights partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers in March 2026, reportedly worth over $125 million, renaming the stadium's playing field "Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium." The same records show Uniqlo partnered with Nissin Foods in April 2026 on branded embroidery designs at 10 participating US stores, priced at $15 each, and with The Trevor Project for Pride Month 2026, making a $20,000 donation.

Earlier Uniqlo Announcements This Month

On October 28, 2026, Uniqlo said it would open two new stores in Bordeaux and Tours in spring 2027, bringing its French network to 32 locations, Fashionnetwork reported. The same day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urged Uniqlo to expand investment in Bangladesh's garment sector, according to United News Bangladesh. On October 29, 2026, Bloomberg reported that Uniqlo scrapped a planned ¥100 price increase on its ¥290 socks after Japanese shoppers protested.