Uniqlo facts for kids
 |
|
Uniqlo flagship store in Umeda
|
|
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 2 June 1984 |
| Headquarters | 717-1, Sayama, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi 754-0894, Japan |
|
Key people
|
Tadashi Yanai (CHM, Pres., CEO) Takahiro Wakabayashi (SVP) |
| Products | |
|
Number of employees
|
30,000+ employees |
| Parent | Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. (2005–present) |
Uniqlo Co., Ltd. (株式会社ユニクロ, Kabushiki-gaisha Yunikuro) is a Japanese company that designs, makes, and sells casual wear clothing. It's known for its "fast-fashion" approach, meaning it quickly brings new styles to stores. Uniqlo is part of a bigger company called Fast Retailing Co., Ltd..
Contents
History
How Uniqlo Started in Japan
Uniqlo began in a city called Yamaguchi, Japan. A company named Ogori Shōji, which sold men's clothes, started in March 1949.
On June 2, 1984, the company opened a new store in Naka-ku, Hiroshima. This store sold casual clothes for everyone, both boys and girls. It was first called "Unique Clothing Warehouse." The name was supposed to be a shorter version of "unique clothing." However, in 1988, when registering the brand in Hong Kong, the letter "C" was accidentally read as "Q." Tadashi Yanai, who was in charge of the company, liked the new sound. So, he decided to change the name to "Uniqlo" across Japan. In September 1991, the company's name changed from "Ogori Shōji" to "Fast Retailing." By April 1994, there were over 100 Uniqlo stores all over Japan.
Making Their Own Clothes
In 1997, Fast Retailing decided to make and sell its own clothes. This idea is called "SPA," which means they control everything from design to sales. They hired experts to help them with this plan, including designing new stores and a new logo. Uniqlo started having its clothes made in factories in China, where it was cheaper. Japan was going through a tough economic time, so these affordable clothes became very popular. Their ads, good quality clothes, and new store designs also helped them succeed.
In November 1998, Uniqlo opened its first store in a big city, in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku area. Soon, stores appeared in other major Japanese cities. By 2001, Uniqlo had over 500 stores in Japan and was making a lot of money. When Uniqlo decided to open stores in other countries, they created a separate company in China called Fast Retailing (Jiangsu) Apparel Co., Ltd. In 2002, the first Uniqlo store in China opened in Shanghai. They also opened four stores in London, England.
On November 1, 2005, Fast Retailing changed its structure. It became a company that mostly manages other companies, while Uniqlo Co., Ltd. became the main company for making and selling clothes.
In 2005, Uniqlo expanded even more, opening stores in the United States (New York City), Hong Kong (Tsim Sha Tsui), and South Korea (Seoul). By the end of 2005, Uniqlo had about 700 stores in Japan and many more overseas. By 2006, their sales reached $4 billion. By 2007, they aimed to reach $10 billion in sales and become one of the top five clothing retailers in the world.
In March 2009, Uniqlo worked with fashion designer Jil Sander. She helped design their men's and women's clothes and launched a new collection called +J. In November 2010, Uniqlo also worked with designer Shiatzy Chen for a special collection. In the same month, Asia's largest Uniqlo store outside Japan opened in Kuala Lumpur.
Uniqlo opened its first roadside store in Japan in 1985. Now, they have many roadside stores in Japan and in five other countries: South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, and Malaysia.
In September 2009, Fast Retailing announced big goals for 2020. They aimed for total sales of about US$61.2 billion. This meant they wanted to become the world's biggest company that makes and sells its own clothing brands. They planned for a lot of growth, especially in China, other Asian countries, Europe, and the United States.
On September 27, 2012, Uniqlo teamed up with a Japanese electronics store called Bic Camera. They opened a store in Shinjuku called Bicqlo, which combined clothes and electronics. This store is now a regular Bic Camera store.
In January 2017, Uniqlo started "Art for All," working with a New York art dealer. They sold special limited-edition products designed by artists for under $100.
Since 2017, Uniqlo has worked with designer Johnathan Anderson on several collections for men. They are still working together in 2023.
In late 2017, Uniqlo introduced clothes made with "3D knit" technology. This technology allows clothes to be made in one piece with very little waste and no seams. It also helps create a better shape and fit. Uniqlo still sells 3D knit items today.
In October 2018, Uniqlo worked with designer Alexander Wang to create a line of "Heattech" basic clothes, like tank tops and leggings.
On June 3, 2019, artist KAWS worked with Uniqlo on a collection called KAWS x UNIQLO UT. His unique art stood out on Uniqlo's simple clothes.
In November 2022, Uniqlo opened a new repair service in Tokyo called Re. Uniqlo Repair Studio. It offers same-day repairs and custom changes for clothes bought at Uniqlo. This service was already available in stores in Germany, the UK, and the US.
On August 16, 2023, Uniqlo announced a new clothing line with designer Clare Waight Keller. She used to be the creative director for famous luxury brands like Chloé and Givenchy. This collection launched in September 2023 in 1,500 stores worldwide and online.
Logo
-
This was an older Uniqlo logo used from 1997. It was used alongside the current logo in Japan until 2009.
-
This is the current Uniqlo logo, used since November 2006.
Uniqlo Around the World
By August 2023, Uniqlo planned to have 3,747 stores around the world.
Australia
Uniqlo opened its first Australian store in Melbourne in April 2014. The next year, they opened two stores in Brisbane. In October 2016, Uniqlo opened a store in Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, which is the biggest shopping center in the Southern Hemisphere. Uniqlo opened its first store in the Australian capital, Canberra, on October 26, 2023. As of November 15, 2023, there are 36 Uniqlo stores in Australia, including in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra.
Belgium
The first Uniqlo store in Belgium opened in October 2015 in Antwerp. A second store opened in Wijnegem Shopping Center in March of the same year. On October 19, 2017, a third store opened in Brussels. The Wijnegem store closed in 2022. As of May 2023, there were 3 stores in Belgium.
Canada
.jpg)
Uniqlo opened its first Canadian store in Toronto Eaton Centre on September 30, 2016. A second store opened in Yorkdale Shopping Centre on October 20, 2016. These stores are very large. Three more stores opened in Ontario in 2018. The first store in Oshawa opened in March 2019, and the first in Newmarket opened in April 2019. This brought the total to seven stores in Ontario. The first store in British Columbia opened in Burnaby in October 2017, followed by stores in Surrey and Richmond. The Coquitlam Centre store opened in September 2018. The West Edmonton Mall store opened in September 2019. The first store in Quebec opened in Montreal Eaton Centre in October 2020. The first store in Ottawa opened in June 2023, and the first in Calgary opened in August 2023. This brings the total to 14 stores in Canada.
China
.jpg)
Uniqlo entered the Chinese market in 2002. As of August 2021, there were 832 stores in China, including in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. The head of Fast Retailing, Tadashi Yanai, said in 2020 that he thinks they can open about 3,000 stores in China because of its large population.
In May 2011, a magazine published a story saying that Uniqlo made employees in its Chinese stores and factories work long hours for low pay. Uniqlo tried to sue the magazine for this, but they were not successful.
Denmark
In April 2019, Uniqlo opened its first main store in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was the second country in Scandinavia to get a Uniqlo store, after Sweden.
France
As of May 2024, there were 28 Uniqlo stores in France, with 9 of them in Paris. On November 17, 2014, Uniqlo opened its first store in eastern France in Strasbourg. Uniqlo now has stores in many other big cities like Bordeaux, Lille, and Lyon.
Germany
Uniqlo's main store in Germany opened on April 11, 2014, in Berlin. Uniqlo then opened stores in Stuttgart (2016), Cologne, Düsseldorf (2018), and Hamburg (2020). By 2021, there were ten stores in Germany, with six in Berlin. In 2023, it was announced that Uniqlo would open another main store in Munich.
India
Uniqlo opened its first Indian store in New Delhi in October 2019, and another in Gurugram in November. The company plans to set up its own branch in India. The first main store in Mumbai opened on October 6, 2023, and a second Mumbai store opened on October 20.
As of October 2023, there are 12 Uniqlo stores in India.
Indonesia
On June 22, 2013, Uniqlo opened its first Indonesian store in Jakarta. As of April 2024, it has 73 stores, spreading to cities like Bandung, Surabaya, and Medan. On April 9, 2021, its main and most famous store in Indonesia opened in Pondok Indah Mall 3, Jakarta. On October 28, 2022, Uniqlo opened its first roadside store in Indonesia in Bandung. This made Indonesia the sixth country outside Japan to have a Uniqlo roadside store. The second roadside store opened in Tangerang in May 2023, and the third in Bekasi in April 2024.
Italy
In September 2019, Uniqlo opened its first main store in Italy, in Milan. In April 2024, Uniqlo opened another main store in Rome.
As of May 2024, there are 3 Uniqlo stores in Italy.
Luxembourg
In October 2023, Uniqlo opened its first main store in Luxembourg, in Luxembourg City. The store is very large, covering three floors.
Malaysia
.jpg)
On November 4, 2010, Uniqlo opened its first store in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. As of October 2021, Uniqlo has 48 stores across Malaysia, including an online store. Malaysia became the fifth country outside Japan to get a Uniqlo roadside store. This large store opened in Bandar Sri Damansara in December 2020.
Netherlands
The first Uniqlo store in the Netherlands opened in Amsterdam on September 28, 2018. The opening had some protests about Uniqlo's business practices in its factories. As of August 2021, a second store opened in The Hague.
Philippines
Uniqlo's first store in the Philippines opened in SM Mall of Asia on June 15, 2012. On its sixth birthday, the company opened its main store in the country in Makati on October 5, 2018. This store is the biggest in Southeast Asia.
Uniqlo works with the SM Group to bring its brand to the Philippines. As of August 2023, there were 72 stores in the Philippines.
Poland
In October 2022, Uniqlo opened its first Polish store in Warsaw. The store is quite large, covering two floors.
South Korea
Uniqlo (유니클로) made over $1.7 million in sales in one day on November 11, 2011, when it opened Asia's largest main store in central Seoul. This was the highest sales figure ever for a fashion store in Korea. Uniqlo earns over $1.2 billion in sales each year with 134 stores in South Korea. A company called Lotte owns part of Uniqlo's Korean business.
On December 6, 2020, the main store in Myeong-dong closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests against Japanese products.
Singapore
As of 2024, Uniqlo had 29 stores in Singapore. Uniqlo opened its first store in Singapore on April 9, 2009. While that store closed, a new one opened in Tampines Mall in February 2021. This new store is similar to others, with two floors for men and women. The first Global Flagship Store opened on September 2, 2016, in Orchard Central. Many new stores and expansions were planned in 2020, and some large stores in Orchard Road are now called "Uniqlotown."
Spain
Uniqlo started selling online in Spain in 2016. In September 2017, it opened its main store in Barcelona. It also has three more stores in Barcelona and two stores in Madrid. As of May 2023, there were 6 stores in Spain.
Sweden
In August 2018, Uniqlo opened its first Swedish store in Stockholm. As of May 2023, there were 3 stores in Sweden, also in Gothenburg and Solna.
Taiwan
Uniqlo opened its first store in Taiwan on October 5, 2010, in Taipei. Then, on September 23, 2011, Uniqlo opened its sixth main store worldwide in Taipei. This store is very large, with four floors, 39 fitting rooms, and 45 cashiers. As of June 2022, there are 70 stores in Taiwan.
Thailand
Uniqlo opened its first store in Thailand on September 9, 2011, in Central World. As of August 2023, there were 64 stores in Thailand.
United Kingdom
As of May 2023, there were 17 stores in the UK, with 11 of them in London. Earlier plans to open many stores in the early 2000s were changed, and 16 shops closed in 2003. However, Uniqlo opened a new store in Manchester in April 2019. Uniqlo opened its first main store in Scotland, in Edinburgh, in April 2024.
United States
In September 2005, Uniqlo opened its first United States store in Edison, New Jersey. In November 2006, Uniqlo opened its first global main store in the SoHo fashion area of Manhattan, New York City. New fashion designers joined the team to create styles for the US market. Uniqlo opened its first store in California in April 2012 in San Francisco.
As part of Fast Retailing's plan for 2020, the company said it wanted to make $10 billion in sales each year in the United States from 200 stores. This would mean having a store in every major U.S. city. This goal was set when the company only had a few stores in the New York City area.
In October 2015, Uniqlo opened its first store in the Midwest, in Chicago. This main Chicago store closed in 2021. Uniqlo opened its first store in Florida at Disney Springs, Orlando, in July 2016. The first store in Hawaii opened in Honolulu in 2018.
In October 2019, Uniqlo rented a very large space for its first North American distribution center in Phillipsburg, NJ. As of September 2023, there were 50 stores in the U.S.
In January 2024, it was announced that Uniqlo would open its first Texas store in Houston in the fall. Uniqlo also said it would open two more stores in Texas in 2024, including in Dallas and Arlington.
Vietnam
On October 17, 2019, Uniqlo officially announced its first store in Vietnam, which opened at the end of 2019 in Ho Chi Minh City. This store is in a very popular shopping area. Uniqlo opened a second store on March 6, 2020, in Hanoi in a popular shopping center. This store covers two floors.
As of June 2023, there were 17 stores in Vietnam.
See also
In Spanish: Uniqlo para niños
