Brit Insurance Design Award to Jil Sander for Uniqlo

Jil Sander’s collaboration line for high street value retailer,

Uniqlo, +J, has scooped the 2011 Design Museum’s Brit Insurance Design Award.

The award which goes to luxury labels has previously been won by the likes of Christopher Kane and Christophe Decarnin but Jil Sander this year beat off stiff competition from the likes of Alber Elbaz and Gareth Pugh.

Sander comments, ‘It means a lot, not just to me but to my whole +J staff at UNIQLO. To be asked to compete with so many highly impressive design works was a great honour for us.’

Furthermore Sander addressed the value of the high street today. Although she noted the line to be ‘not much more than a fragile experiment,’ she continued, ‘We feel all the more encouraged to be deemed relevant as a project which wishes to make the world a better place,’ she says.

‘It was our vision from the beginning to become part of the fresh energy that is sweeping the planet, doing away with outgrown hierarchies. This award will help us to continue contributing to the everyday life of many people as a reliable source for modern fashion of high quality and at a democratic price.’

The S/S11 range is about to hit stores with skirts at around £60, cotton jackets at around £129 and drape neck dresses at about £100.