UNIQLO and Italian designer Francesco Risso are introducing the 2026 Knitwear Capsule Collection from their collaborative line, UNIQLO F.RISSO. The collection launches on October 30, 2026, with the full lineup available at 105 UNIQLO stores across Japan and through the brand’s online store.

Courtesy of UNIQLO
The second installment of the collaboration, which began in summer 2026, continues under the theme Made for Dreaming. Drawing on the nostalgia and expressive color palettes of vintage knitwear, Risso reinterprets these elements through contemporary 3D knitting technology. Sculptural silhouettes produced with mechanical precision are combined with the warmth and subtle irregularities associated with handcraft, bringing his distinctive sense of playfulness into the everyday wardrobe.

Between Mechanical Precision and the Beauty of Handcraft

At the heart of the collection is 3D knitting technology, a technique that has captured Risso’s imagination.

Using specialized knitting machines, 3D knitting creates garments in three-dimensional form, reducing the need to sew together separate panels. The result is a largely seamless construction that allows the garment to follow the contours of the body naturally.

Courtesy of UNIQLO
For Risso, however, the possibilities of this technology extend beyond functionality and comfort.

"I was fascinated by the contrasting expressions made possible by 3D knitting technology. While using cutting-edge techniques to create seamless knitwear, I sought to capture the natural irregularities, rich textures, and warmth associated with handcraft."

Risso explains that this contrast lies at the heart of his approach to the collection.

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Historically, the texture of knitwear was shaped by human hands. Subtle variations in stitches and uneven surfaces reflected the individuality of their makers, creating a richness that machines could not fully replicate.

Risso’s intention was not simply to reproduce the techniques of the past. Instead, he sought to reconstruct the memory of handcraft through contemporary technology, giving it a new expression in modern clothing.

“The precision of machines and the beauty unique to the human hand. That contrast was one of the things I most wanted to express in this collection.”

Technology often strives for efficiency and uniformity, while human creativity embraces chance and imperfection. Rather than treating these qualities as opposites, Risso brings them together within a single knitted garment. This interplay defines the character of the collection.

Reconstructing Vintage Memories Through Color and Silhouette

The theme Made for Dreaming carries over from the collaboration’s first collection in summer 2026.

That initial release explored imagination and playfulness in everyday dressing through lightweight materials, fluid silhouettes, and expressive colors. The latest collection extends that sensibility into winter knitwear.

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Vintage knitwear serves as a key source of inspiration. Nostalgic color combinations and familiar shapes are reworked with contemporary proportions, creating something that evokes the past without merely reproducing it.

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Among the most striking elements are the bold two-tone color combinations. Brown and yellow, varying shades of blue, and black paired with olive introduce a distinctive rhythm through contrasting panels and carefully placed lines.

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The collection’s styling pairs knitwear with relaxed trousers or layers it over shirts, emphasizing an approach to dressing that moves beyond conventional gender distinctions. The focus is on allowing individuals to explore color and silhouette according to their own sensibilities.

Five 3D-Knit Sweaters and Accessories for Winter

The collection centers on five sweater styles created using 3D knitting technology.

Lightweight yet warm turtlenecks and mock-neck polo sweaters are joined by V-neck and boat-neck designs that emphasize volume and sculptural form. Variations in neckline, shoulder construction, and knitted texture give each piece a distinct silhouette.

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The gentle feel against the skin and three-dimensional shapes that move naturally with the body are among the defining characteristics of the knitwear. Although the garments are largely seamless, some stitching is used for attaching labels or reinforcing specific areas.

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HEATTECH socks and beanies complete the lineup. They can be coordinated with the sweaters or introduced as individual accents, offering additional ways to explore the collection’s colors and styling. Neither the beanies nor the socks are produced using 3D knitting technology.

The seven-item collection is priced at ¥3,990–¥4,990 for knitwear, ¥1,500 for beanies, and ¥590 for socks.

From MARNI to UNIQLO: Francesco Risso’s Vision of Everyday Fashion

Born in Italy, Francesco Risso studied fashion in Florence, New York, and London before spending approximately a decade at PRADA, where he developed his approach to design and craftsmanship.

Francesco Risso | Courtesy of UNIQLO
From 2016 to 2025, he served as Creative Director of MARNI, developing collections informed by music, art, and a wide range of cultural influences. His bold approach to color, unconventional proportions, and playful experimentation helped shape the brand’s distinctive creative identity.

Risso currently serves as Creative Director of GU. Through his collaboration with UNIQLO, he is also bringing his design language into everyday clothing accessible to a broader audience.

The latest knitwear capsule collection reflects his enduring fascination with color and his interest in exploring the expressive possibilities of a garment’s form, qualities that have remained central to his work since his years at MARNI.


Courtesy of UNIQLO
Created with advanced knitting technology yet imbued with a sense of human warmth, the collection reflects Risso’s desire to rediscover individuality and freedom of expression within increasingly standardized methods of production.

Perhaps Made for Dreaming is less about dressing for extraordinary occasions than about finding room for imagination in the clothes we wear every day.