The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), and global apparel retailer UNIQLO announced today the launch of the Katagami UT collection, a line of T-shirts inspired by katagami stencils from the Museum’s renowned holdings of Japanese art. The specially developed items—offered in seven designs for men and eight for women—are part of UNIQLO’s UT (UNIQLO T-Shirt) line, which transforms T-shirts into canvases of art and self-expression through an array of authentic cultural content from around the world. The Katagami UT collection will be sold at UNIQLO stores worldwide and online at UNIQLO.com starting August 20, 2018. The T-shirts will also be available at the MFA Signature Shop, where Museum members will be able to purchase them using their regular 10 percent discount. This collaboration builds upon a 10-year partnership between the Museum and UNIQLO—a longtime supporter of arts and culture—that was established in 2017.

“We are incredibly pleased about extending our partnership with UNIQLO into worldwide retail channels. Our collaboration allows us to share the MFA’s collection with a broader audience, and makes art more accessible through UNIQLO’s innovative UT collection,” said Katie Getchell, Chief Brand Officer and Deputy Director.

Hand-carved from paper with intricate designs, katagami stencils are traditionally used to dye cotton, silk or other textiles for Japanese garments. The MFA’s curators worked closely with UNIQLO to select patterns from the Museum’s collection of 4,200 katagamistencils, largely brought to Boston by William Sturgis Bigelow (1850–1926). One of the first Americans to live in Japan, Bigelow played an integral role in establishing the Japanese collection at the MFA, which today encompasses nearly 100,000 objects in all genres. In 1910, the Museum organized the first special exhibition devoted to katagami stencils, highlighting them not only as tools, but also as works of art in their own right.

“UNIQLO has a longstanding interest in the arts, and we are proud to continue our partnership with the MFA and deepen our commitment to bringing joy to everyday life—in this instance through some of the world’s most revered art,” said Nick Grover, UNIQLO Director of Brand Partnerships. “The Katagami UT collaboration celebrates the finest of Japanese craftsmanship and we are excited to share these specially designed items with both customers and museum-goers alike for the first time.”

In celebration of the Katagami UT line, the MFA and UNIQLO will offer special giveaways for the public during the launch week. From August 20 to August 26, scratch cards will be distributed at UNIQLO’s Faneuil Hall and Newbury Street stores, offering shoppers a chance to win the following prizes:

• 10 free one-year MFA memberships (redeemable at any MFA ticket desk, valid through December 31, 2018)
• $30 off a one-year MFA membership (redeemable at any MFA ticket desk, valid through December 31, 2018)
• Free T-shirt from the Katagami UT collection (redeemable at UNIQLO’s Newbury Street store)
• $10 off a $60 purchase (redeemable at UNIQLO’s Newbury Street and Faneuil Hall stores)

Additionally, a launch party will take place on August 24, from 5 to 7 pm, at UNIQLO’s Newbury Street store. Guests can enjoy light bites by Santouka Ramen and enjoy a display of katagami artwork and stencil tools from 19th-century Japan, courtesy of the MFA’s archives. Museum educators will also lead a katagamiart-making activity, inviting guests to use stencils inspired by Japanese textile dyeing to print on postcards that can be taken home.