By Damien Woolnough

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Blanchett and Waight Keller are Jay’s building blocks for Uniqlo pride. Together, the fashion-forward duo are removing any traces of shame about admitting to having the label in your wardrobe.

Last month Blanchett was named a global ambassador for Uniqlo. It’s a step up from her introduction to the brand, buying socks and undies for the family. At the New York party the Disclaimer actress spoke about Uniqlo with the same reverence she uses regarding outfits from Louis Vuitton and the late Giorgio Armani.

“With Uniqlo you are building a wardrobe over time,” Blanchett says. “It shouldn’t be a luxury to have good, well-made, quality clothes. They should be available to all, and I think that’s in the DNA of the brand.”

Blanchett’s own red-carpet reputation has been enhanced by re-wearing gowns at major events, such as the Armani Prive gown she wore to the 2018 Venice Film Festival and upcycled into a jumpsuit for last year’s AACTA Awards in Sydney. Like Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai – Japan’s second-richest man, who stressed at the beginning of the evening that his brand is not fast fashion – Blanchett regards the range as affordable investment-wear.

“I grew up with a Depression-era grandmother, so the idea of waste has always been anathema to me,” she says. “I think waste is the enemy of creativity. What I love about investigating Uniqlo and visiting the mothership in Tokyo is that you have the classics, staples that you can build up a personal sense of style with by holding on to things. And if you don’t want them, you pass them on to other people.