Blending culture, history, and fashion, this pop-up turns ACM artefacts into wearable pieces.
Singapore is no stranger to fashion collaborations, but few feel as thoughtful as this one. At a time when capsule wardrobes, graphic tees and wearable storytelling continue to shape how people dress, UNIQLO has found a way to connect everyday style with the world of museums. Its latest project does exactly that, bringing heritage into a contemporary retail format that feels easy, relevant and refreshingly accessible.
Running until 28 May 2026, the UNIQLO x ACM UTme! pop-up has taken over the lobby of the Asian Civilisations Museum as part of the museum’s Crossing Cultures festival. Marking UNIQLO’s first museum pop-up in Singapore, the activation turns a cultural institution into a space where history and fashion meet, inviting visitors to engage with museum objects through a distinctly modern lens.
At the centre of the concept are five limited-edition T-shirt designs inspired by pieces from the ACM collection. Rather than simply reproducing historical artefacts, the project reinterprets them as graphic statements for daily wear. Among the objects referenced are a candelabra, a dancing woman-shaped pitcher, an elephant-shaped hookah base and a Tang Shipwreck ewer, all drawn from ACM’s rich holdings and maritime trade history. The result is a collection that feels rooted in the past while still speaking the language of contemporary streetwear.
The designs have been created in collaboration with local artists and studios, which gives the collection an added sense of place. Their involvement brings fresh visual energy to the project, allowing these artefacts to be viewed in a new way while preserving their connection to Singapore’s cultural scene. It is a smart approach, and one that makes the collection feel more than just merch. Instead, it lands as a creative exchange between heritage, design and everyday dressing.
Alongside the ACM-inspired pieces, the pop-up also spotlights other UNIQLO UT T-shirts influenced by globally recognised artists, including Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. That wider curation places the collaboration within UNIQLO’s broader design universe, where art and fashion regularly overlap.
While visitors can preview the ACM designs at the museum, purchases and customisation will take place at selected UNIQLO stores across Singapore, including Orchard Central, ION Orchard, VivoCity and Jewel Changi Airport. There is also an added incentive for culture lovers, as every purchase of an ACM x UTme! T-shirt comes with complimentary access to ACM’s special exhibitions.
By turning museum artefacts into wearable pieces, UNIQLO and ACM have created a pop-up that feels both playful and purposeful. It is a reminder that history need not remain behind glass, and that fashion can be a surprisingly effective way to bring culture into everyday life.
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore, 179555
When: Daily from 10am to 7pm until 28 May 2026
Contact: www.uniqlo.com