By Raymond Ward, Chicago Crusader
Located at 830 North Michigan Avenue, in the heart of Chicago’s upscale shopping district, UNIQLO has taken a unique approach to embracing Chicagoland. It has launched partnerships with a number of Chicago institutions. It started with the Jazz Institute of Chicago, nurturing young jazz musicians and continues with the award-winning River North restaurant Slurping Turtle and also 1871, the center for Chicago’s technology and entrepreneurial community.
In addition to integrating partner products and information into UNIQLO’s displays throughout the store, UNIQLO will co-host three events at the store.
The first event held on Friday, October 27th, was a performance featuring high school and college-age students from the Jazz Institute of Chicago Jazz Links Education programs. The music delighted guests and the performance brought jazz to a unique environment.
If you missed the jazz you can engage your taste buds at UNIQLO’s second event on November 18th which will be a cooking demonstration and sampling, featuring Slurping Turtle’s Chef Takashi Yagihashi, who will also be signing copies of his book Takashi’s Noodles. Whether or not you care to undertake noodle-making, this book is a unique and thoroughly fascinating examination of the noodle in its many glorious forms.
In January, after the holidays, UNIQLO and 1871 will present an event focused on discussion encompassing such topics as technology, design and entrepreneurship. With both companies at the forefront of innovation in their respective markets, this discussion promises to be both thought-provoking and inspiring.
“We’re so excited to partner with Chicago’s iconic institutions, and hope to establish long-term relationships to give back to the community,” said Victoria Simpson, General Manager of UNIQLO Chicago North Michigan Avenue Store.
“The jazz Institute of Chicago, the city’s leading force in nurturing and promoting jazz in Chicago is excited to have the opportunity to share the work it does in developing and supporting the next generation of jazz artists in Chicago,” said Executive Director Lauren Deutsch. “We’re looking forward to continuing to partner with UNIQLO to showcase our young artists.”
