• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, December 21, 2023

Nothing draws in post-holiday shoppers like a limited-time high-style fashion collaboration, and both Coach and Uniqlo have plenty of panache up their sleeves.

Coach’s Little Nas X winter capsule collection drops just after Christmas, offering brilliant pinks, oranges and blues with bright Y2K inspiration. It’s the latest in Coach’s ongoing partnership with the rapper, focusing on style, courage and self-expression.

Those cultural connections are aiding Coach’s efforts to cozy up to younger shoppers. Owned by Tapestry, the accessories retailer saw its most recent quarterly sales rise 5% to $1.16 billion. It acquired approximately 1.2 million new customers in North America – half of them Gen Z and millennials.

Other recent efforts from Coach have featured such celebrities as Jennifer Lopez, Kirsten Dunst, Michael B. Jordan and Megan Thee Stallion.

And Marimekko and Uniqlo are at it again, this time with a limited-time offer that blends the warmth of Uniqlo with the Finnish designer’s exuberant prints.

The capsule collection bows next month, building on Uniqlo’s strength in warm winter clothing and sturdy basics. That has helped Fast Retailing, which owns Uniqlo, outperform rivals like H&M and Inditex, parent of Zara. In its most recent annual results, Fast topped $3 billion in profits, projecting an 18% gain in the year ahead as it continues its rapid expansion into China.

Uniqlo’s international exposure is also good for Marimekko. “Limited-edition brand collaborations with wide global reach increase Marimekko’s international brand awareness, and this way support our growth strategy, especially in international markets,” says Sanna-Kaisa Niikko, chief marketing officer of Marimekko, in the announcement. “We believe this collaboration is a great opportunity to introduce Marimekko to large new audiences around the world – and to offer customers something fun and surprising.”

The collections focus on three of its best-known prints, all inspired by Nordic nature, conjuring up winter landscapes.