Uniqlo (Yamaguchi, Japan) has hired Rebekka Bay to be creative director of its new research and development center in New York, effective May 1. According to Women’s Wear Daily, in the new role, Bay “will build and manage a team of dedicated designers and oversee the company’s product design and development, working as part of the company’s global R&D organization.”
Uniqlo operates five global innovation centers in addition to Tokyo, Shanghai, Los Angeles and Paris. At its New York R&D center, it focuses specifically on creating “new basic” products as well as updating other essentials, based on the trends and insights it gathers.
Bay has previously worked for Gap (San Francisco) and H&M’s (Stockholm) Cos. She left her most recent job as creative director at Everlane (San Francisco) in February. The first collections that will reflect her involvement will debut in fall-winter 2018.