Yes, by now we all know Uniqlo had its grand opening, or re-grand opening, last Friday morning at the former Old Navy spot near Market and Fourth streets. The store opened with Muni-themed T-shirts and tote bags, exclusive to the Market Street store.
This reporter waited in line early Friday morning to check out some of the Muni tees and totes, but there was no need to rush to get the Muni items. I visited the store again on Tuesday morning, and the Muni items were restocked. The Voice reached out to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) who told us that “they’ll be there a while.”
The SFMTA joined Uniqlo in a “creative partnership” to bring Muni tees and totes to the Market Street flagship store. The SFMTA said it was the second collaboration with Uniqlo. Uniqlo shoppers can already get custom cable car embroidery at Uniqlo’s Santa Clara Valley Fair store, the SFMTA said.
At the Market Street store, customers can find several designs already printed on T-shirts and totes, including a Muni Fast Pass design that reads “June 1979” (the cost of a Fast Pass back then was $11). The design features a sailboat on the water. Another design shows the Muni worm logo in a field of orange poppies. Another design features Muni Metro light rail lines alongside various foods, including boba and tacos.
For the totes, the store features designs with the Muni worm logo and a tiny cable car climbing on the logo. Another tote design has different landmarks, including Coit Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Palace of Fine Arts. Muni buses, a cable car, and a historic streetcar are passing through the landmarks. Shoppers can also get the same designs on a T-shirt.
Customers can also wait in line to try the store’s UTime! section where people can customize tees and totes with Muni designs on a tablet. I attempted to add multiple Muni designs to a tote, but unfortunately only one design is allowed. Still, if you do not see a printed T-shirt or tote with a specific design, you can make one at UTime! The designs are printed on a white T-shirt, and for totes, designs get printed on an off-white regular-sized tote bag. Both cost $30 (not including sales tax) each, which is the same cost as the printed items.
Also advertised at the store is custom embroidery for Uniqlo clothing that features Muni worm logo designs (scroll to the last page). The cost is $15 (not including tax).
The SFMTA said their Creative Services Team helped design the collection for Uniqlo.
“This collection is a love letter to San Francisco,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum in a statement. “We’re thrilled to partner with Uniqlo to offer a collection that reflects the transit system and city that our riders love.”
The store is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
