US - NEWS

Metal Gear Solid 4 and UT

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

New York, NY. June 6, 2008 -- UNIQLO USA announced today that it would be hosting a rare autograph signing session with the legendary video game creator Mr. Hideo Kojima on June 12th in its Global Flagship in Soho, lower Manhattan. This special session is to celebrate Konami’s North American Launch of the latest episode in Mr. Kojima renowned tactical espionage action series Metal Gear Solid®4: Guns of the Patriots and to commemorate UNIQLO’s limited edition series of MGS4 collaboration t-shirts. About the session- Mr. Kojima, together with Ms. Kikuchi who is the game’s Raging Raven character, will be at UNIQLO USA’s Global Flagship store at 546 Broadway to sign autographs from 5 to 7pm. The session will be on a first come first serve basis and is expected to accommodate approximately 300 fans. Limited edition Metal Gear Solid®4 collaboration t-shirts will also be on sale at that time. About the t-shirts: UNIQLO has collaborated with three well-known artists/design groups to develop six t-shirts that embed secret game messages within their design, three of which are available for sale in the US. UNIQLO worked with LOGAN, a motion graphic production company known for its commercials and music videos, Power Graphixx as well as the Kusano Design Office. About Metal Gear Solid 4 Metal Gear Solid®4 is the final chapter in Mr. Kojima’s 20-year saga of Solid Snake as he combats the enemy with stealth. Total sales of the Metal Gear series have surpassed 22 millions units world wide and created a new genre of action games wherein covert action and stealth are the rewarded. The game was created exclusively for the PS3® and takes advantage of its hardware to full HD visuals in 5.1channel surround sound. About UNIQLO Clothing says a lot, but you can say it better. UNIQLO designs, manufactures, markets and sells casual wear that can be worn by anyone, any day. Rather than dictate a look, UNIQLO provides people everywhere with the pieces they need to create their own style. And style comes from within, which is why the UNIQLO logo is nearly invisible, tucked away inside the garment. This concept together with an unwavering focus on quality and value has guided UNIQLO’s actions since the establishment of its first store in 1984 in Hiroshima, Japan. Today UNIQLO has grown to over 730 UNIQLO stores worldwide and is household name in Japan. From t-shirts and sweaters to denim, outerwear and trend items, all of our clothes are made according to exacting Japanese standards for quality and come in an astonishing variety of colors and styles. UNIQLO is committed to providing customers with true excellence and innovations in casual wear, from the design and functionality to the fit and color choices. As a company, UNIQLO controls every stage of the creation of its products—from the fabric used to the stringent production control program at the factory and finally to the display at the store. We use the world’s best resources to give customers something better every time. UNIQLO is a brand of FAST RETAILING and among the top ten specialty apparel retailers in the world. Other group companies include Comptoir des Cotonniers in France About Konami Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties. Konami’s titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid®, DanceDanceRevolution® and Castlevania®, among other top sellars. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. Press Contact: Rebecca Goodman / rgoodman@greatpress.com

UNIQLO CELEBRATES THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING WITH A NEW UT COLLECTION AND ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FEATURING CHLOE SEVIGNY

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:10 -0500

March 5, 2008 (New York, NY)– This spring, UNIQLO’s creative wheels are turning once again with the return of the UT Project (UT stands for UNIQLO t-shirt), a limited edition collection of t-shirts designed by renowned artists, designers, photographers, etc. Arriving in stores on March 17th, with deliveries throughout the season, this collection features t-shirts from famed artists Keith Harring and Basquiat, among other designers and artists. Reasonably priced from around $15.50 and offering styles for men, women and children, there is sure to be a style for everyone. These t-shirts will be available in UNIQLO stores worldwide. To complement this truly innovative idea, UNIQLO is rolling out an advertising campaign featuring Chloe Sevigny and Tadanobu Asano, a Japanese actor, shot by photographer Dan Jackson. This campaign will be featured in wildpostings, a type of viral guerilla-style image campaign, as well as full pages in Time Out New York, AM New York and the New York Post, commencing on April 10th. “”UT is about self expression, so we took this as our starting point for the campaign. With Tadanobu Asano and Chloe Sevigny, we had them express various characters and emotions that they found in the t-shirt designs. We wanted them to bring the designs to life,” said Markus Kiersztan, owner of MP Creative and consulting creative director for UNIQLO. The UT Project will continue to be an important initiative for UNIQLO in the future as illustrated by the launch of the interactive UT Grand Prix Program, which enables artists from all over the world to submit a t-shirt design to possibly be sold as a t-shirt at UNIQLO. The UT Grand Prix is certain to make design more fun and adds another interesting layer to the UT Project. This project commences on April 16th and will be carried out over the months following. About UNIQLO Clothing says a lot, but you can say it better.UNIQLO designs, manufactures, markets and sells casual wear that can be worn by anyone, any day. Rather than dictate a look, UNIQLO provides people everywhere with the piece they need to create their own style. And style comes from within, which is why the UNIQLO logo is nearly invisible, tucked away inside the garment. This concept, along with an unwavering focus on quality and value, has guided UNIQLO’s actions since the establishment of its first store in 1984 Hiroshima, Japan. Today UNIQLO has grown to over 760 UNIQLO stores worldwide and is household name in Japan. From t-shirts and sweaters to denim, outerwear and trend items, all of our clothes are made according to exacting Japanese standards for quality and come in an astonishing variety of colors and styles. UNIQLO is committed to providing customers with true excellence and innovation in casual wear, from the design and functionality to the fit and color choices. As a company, UNIQLO controls every stage of the creation of its products—from the fabric used to the stringent production control program at the factory and finally to the display at the store. We use the world’s best resources to give customers something better every time. UNIQLO is a brand of FAST RETAILING and among the top 10 specialty apparel retailers in the world. Other group companies include Theory in the U.S., COMPTOIR DES COTONNIERS and Princesse tam.tam in France, and g.u., CABIN, ONE ZONE, FOOT PARK, VIEW COMPANY and ASPESI in Japan. For more information, visit www.uniqlo.com or www.fastretailing.com. For further information or images please contact: Rebecca Goodman rgoodman@greatpress.com Paul Wilmot Communications 581 Sixth Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011 T: 212.206.7447 F: 212.206.7557

UNIQLO RINGS IN THE FALL SEASON WITH AN ODE TO DENIM

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:00:03 -0500

BY INTRODUCING A MEN’S SELVEDGE DENIM LINE
AND A NEW DENIM AD CAMPAIGN

July 10, 2007 (New York, NY) – UNIQLO celebrates the arrival of fall and the back-to-school season by paying tribute to the ultimate and favorite fashion staple – denim. UNIQLO’s denim range for fall is proof positive that fashionable, well-made, premium denim jeans can be affordable and accessible. Ranging in price from $19.50 (for kids) to $79.50 (for adults) with the core of the line priced at $49.50, UNIQLO’s denim line features the world’s best Japanese denim combined with cutting-edge fits, styles and washes, making them the perfect jeans for anyone and everyone who loves denim. This fall also marks a special denim moment for UNIQLO with the introduction of the men’s Selvedge denim line for true denim aficionados. Typically only offered by premium denim brands, because of the unique and costly production of the fabric, which is woven from seam to seam resulting in the iconic red inseam, UNIQLO will make this highly coveted type of denim available to the masses with a price tag of only $79.50. The Selvedge collection, which arrives in stores mid-September, will feature two washes, deep indigo and black denim, and two fits, Skinny Fit and Regular Straight Fit. UNIQLO’s fall denim collection features a variety of fits, which are outlined below: Women’ Fits: -Extreme Skinny Fit Straight Jeans for $49.50 -Skinny Fit Tapered Jeans for $49.50 -Skinny Fit Straight Jeans for 49.50 -Slim Fit Straight Jeans for $49.50 -Regular Fit Straight Jeans for $49.50 -Regular Fit Bootcut Jeans for $49.50 -Boyfriend Fit Straight Jeans for $49.50 -Boyfriend Relaxed Straight Fit Jeans for $49.50 -Wide Leg Fit Straight Jeans for $59.50 -Extreme Wide Leg Fit Straight Jeans for $59.50 Men’s Fits: -Selvedge Skinny Fit Jeans for $79.50 -Selvedge Regular Fit Straight Jeans for $79.50 -Skinny Fit Tapered Jeans for $49.50 -Slim Fit Straight Jeans for $49.50 -Slim Fit Bootcut Jeans for $49.50 -Regular Fit Bootcut Jeans for $49.50 -Regular Fit Straight Jeans for $49.50 -Relaxed Fit Straight Jeans for $49.50 To celebrate UNIQLO’s love of denim, the fall advertising campaign will focus on the new denim collection and the versatility of this essential basic, which allows the wearer to embrace and reflect their own personality. True to UNIQLO’s previous campaigns, the fall campaign focuses on true individuals. The subjects featured in the images this season were selected from different facets of the fashion industry and include model Isabeli Fontana, in her first campaign since returning to work after the birth of her son Lucas, Tatiana Patitz, former “supermodel” and eternal beauty, and Dennis Freedman, editor-in-chief of W magazine, among others. The campaign was photographed by Miguel Reveriego, who captured each character in an intimate portrait of self-expression. Through Miguel’s eyes, jeans are more than an item of clothing, they tell a story of personal style. “The fall campaign conveys that UNIQLO is not only about clothing, but also a reflection of character and individuality,” said UNIQLO USA, Inc. CEO Nobuo Domae, “With a strong focus on fashion, we gathered a cast of models and fashion icons. Through these talented individuals, UNIQLO has once again captured the spirit of real people.” “This fall, we wanted to pay tribute to people who are well known in the fashion world and are not afraid to be themselves,” added Creative Director / Art Director Markus Kiersztan of MP Creative, UNIQLO’s marketing agency of record. “By including stylists, publicists, models and editors, the campaign reflects the many ways these clothes can be worn.” Commencing in September, UNIQLO’s fall ad campaign will appear in Time Out New York and will also been seen on the streets of New York as part of a strategic outdoor advertising campaign. About UNIQLO Clothing says a lot, but you can say it better. UNIQLO designs, manufactures, markets and sells casual wear that can be worn by anyone, any day. Rather than dictate a look, UNIQL provides people everywhere with the piece they need to create their own style. And style comes from within, which is why the UNIQLO logo is nearly invisible, tucked away inside the garment. This concept, along with an unwavering focus on quality and value, has guided UNIQLO’s actions since the establishment of its first store in 1984 Hiroshima, Japan. Today UNIQLO has grown to over 760 UNIQLO stores worldwide and is household name in Japan. From t-shirts and sweaters to denim, outerwear and trend items, all of our clothes are made according to exacting Japanese standards for quality and come in an astonishing variety of colors and styles. UNIQLO is committed to providing customers with true excellence and innovation in casual wear, from the design and functionality to the fit and color choices. As a company, UNIQLO controls every stage of the creation of its products—from the fabric used to the stringent production control program at the factory and finally to the display at the store. We use the world’s best resources to give customers something better every time. UNIQLO is a brand of FAST RETAILING and among the top 10 specialty apparel retailers in the world. Other group companies include Theory in the U.S., COMPTOIR DES COTONNIERS and Princesse tam.tam in France, and g.u., CABIN, ONE ZONE, FOOT PARK, VIEW COMPANY and ASPESI in Japan. For more information, visit www.uniqlo.com or www.fastretailing.com. For further information or images please contact: UNIQLO USA PR Contact UNIQLO USA, Inc. 101 6th Avenue, 11th floor, NY, NY 10013 T: 212 969-5815 (showroom) 　　917 237-8800 (store) E: press@uniqlo-usa.com

UNIQLO CLOSES NEW JERSEY STORE LOCATIONS

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:18:00 -0500

September 10, 2007 (New York, NY) – Capitalizing on its success and popularity in New York City since the Flagship store launch in November 2006, UNIQLO will pursue an aggressive expansion campaign throughout Manhattan over the next few years. In order to place all focus on Manhattan, UNIQLO has closed its three New Jersey store locations in Menlo Park Mall, Rockaway Mall and Freehold Mall. The mall locations, opened prior to the Manhattan flagship, provided useful insight into the American marketplace. Building upon the experience in New Jersey, UNIQLO was able to anticipate the needs of the New York market, resulting in a successful flagship launch. UNIQLO’s innovative marketing campaigns, supported by its extensive array of premium clothing at affordable prices, have created a loyal following in New York which includes everyone from fashionistas to rock stars to those simply searching for the perfect T-Shirt, all of which are eager to see the brand expand. By concentrating on New York City, UNIQLO will continue to build brand awareness in Manhattan and throughout the United States. About UNIQLO Clothing says a lot, but you can say it better. UNIQLO designs, manufactures, markets and sells casual wear that can be worn by anyone, any day. Rather than dictate a look, UNIQL provides people everywhere with the piece they need to create their own style. And style comes from within, which is why the UNIQLO logo is nearly invisible, tucked away inside the garment. This concept, along with an unwavering focus on quality and value, has guided UNIQLO’s actions since the establishment of its first store in 1984 Hiroshima, Japan. Today UNIQLO has grown to over 760 UNIQLO stores worldwide and is household name in Japan. From t-shirts and sweaters to denim, outerwear and trend items, all of our clothes are made according to exacting Japanese standards for quality and come in an astonishing variety of colors and styles. UNIQLO is committed to providing customers with true excellence and innovation in casual wear, from the design and functionality to the fit and color choices. As a company, UNIQLO controls every stage of the creation of its products—from the fabric used to the stringent production control program at the factory and finally to the display at the store. We use the world’s best resources to give customers something better every time. UNIQLO is a brand of FAST RETAILING and among the top 10 specialty apparel retailers in the world. Other group companies include Theory in the U.S., COMPTOIR DES COTONNIERS and Princesse tam.tam in France, and g.u., CABIN, ONE ZONE, FOOT PARK, VIEW COMPANY and ASPESI in Japan. For more information, visit www.uniqlo.com or www.fastretailing.com. For further information or images please contact: UNIQLO USA PR Contact UNIQLO USA, Inc. 101 6th Avenue, 11th floor, NY, NY 10013 T: 212 969-5815 (showroom) 　　917 237-8800 (store) E: press@uniqlo-usa.com

UNIQLO LAUNCHES THE UT PROJECT CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE UT STORE IN HARAJUKU, TOKYO

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:00:00 -0500

TERRY RICHARDSON JOINS UNIQLO TO DOCUMENT THE PROJECT

April 16, 2007 – (New York, NY) – A t-shirt is never just a t-shirt when UNIQLO is involved. This essential wardrobe staple is not just an article of clothing, but also an expression of who you are, how you feel, where you’ve been and what you love. On April 28th in Harajuku, Tokyo, UNIQLO will launch UT, short for Uniqlo T-shirt - a new store concept designed by UNIQLO creative director Kashiwa Sato whose vision is that of a futuristic convenience store for t-shirts. Each t-shirt style will be displayed on forms in stainless steel display cases, with the individual t-shirts packaged in clear plastic canisters resembling tennis ball cans. The t-shirts will be stored on open shelves, making the shopping experience truly unique and virtually self-service. With more than 5,000 square feet of selling space spread out over three floors and a fourth floor gallery space, the UT store will in essence serve as a shrine to this fundamental and favorite article of clothing. In celebration of the opening of the UT store, UNIQLO has launched the UT Project, a limited-edition collection of t-shirts designed by renowned artists, designers, photographers and musicians including Terry Richardson, Nobuyoshi Araki, Kai Khüne, Bjorn Copeland of Black Dice, Kim Jones, Peter Saville, Gareth Pugh, Solve Sundsbo and many more. With approximately 1,000 unique t-shirt styles being delivered each year as part of the UT Project from these artists as well as other collaborative efforts such as ECM Records, the Evolution Store in Soho, NY, and many, many others, there is sure to be a style for everyone. “The UT Project has one goal in mind - to let you wear what you love. T-shirts have become an important form of self-expression for the current youth culture, allowing people to highlight their sense of individuality. By selecting artists from all genres and aesthetics to design t-shirts for this project, we have tried to create a collection that embraces the inspiring diversity of our customers,” said Markus Kiersztan, owner of MP Creative and consulting creative director for UNIQLO. Commencing in April, the t-shirts will be available at the UT store and UNIQLO stores worldwide, with nearly 100 new styles being introduced to the New York global flagship store each month. New Yorkers will also catch a glimpse of the innovative UT packaging through a unique visual display at the Soho Flagship. With such an innovative concept, who better to shoot the image campaign for the UT Project than acclaimed photographer and visionary Terry Richardson. The UT campaign will feature recognizable personalities such as model Missy Rayder, actor Michael Pitt, musician Alison Mosshart, and Japanese photographer Keiichi Nitta as well as a group of New York-based up-and-coming artists and future visionaries wearing their favorite UNIQLO t-shirts. In order to find the rising creative talents featured in the campaign, UNIQLO embarked on a multi-media grassroots search that included canvassing the ultimate “self-expression destination” MySpace. The complete collection of Richardson’s photographs will be featured in a limited-edition hardcover book printed by DNP (Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd), and will be sold at UNIQLO stores worldwide starting in mid-May. In addition, a 10-page excerpt from the book will be included in UNIQLO Paper No. 2, UNIQLO’s in-house magazine, which will be in stores at the end of the month. A select group of images will also be featured in an outdoor campaign, as well as in UNIQLO stores worldwide, including an exhibit on the 4th floor of the UT store in Tokyo that will serve as a gallery space. About UNIQLO Clothing says a lot, but can say it better. UNIQLO designs, manufactures, markets and sells casual wear that can be worn by anyone, any day. Rather than dictate a look, UNIQLO provides people everywhere with the piece they need to create their own style. And style comes from within, which is why the UNIQLO logo is nearly invisible, tucked away inside the garment. This concept, along with an unwavering focus on quality and value, has guided UNIQLO’s actions since the establishment of its first store in 1984 Hiroshima, Japan. Today UNIQLO has grown to over 760 UNIQLO stores worldwide and is household name in Japan. From t-shirts and sweaters to denim, outerwear and trend items, all of our clothes are made according to exacting Japanese standards for quality and come in an astonishing variety of colors and styles. UNIQLO is committed to providing customers with true excellence and innovation in casual wear, from the design and functionality to the fit and color choices. As a company, UNIQLO controls every stage of the creation of its products—from the fabric used to the stringent production control program at the factory and finally to the display at the store. We use the world’s best resources to give customers something better every time. UNIQLO is a brand of FAST RETAILING and among the top 10 specialty apparel retailers in the world. Other group companies include Theory in the U.S., COMPTOIR DES COTONNIERS and Princesse tam.tam in France, and g.u., CABIN, ONE ZONE, FOOT PARK, VIEW COMPANY and ASPESI in Japan. For more information, visit www.uniqlo.com or www.fastretailing.com. For further information or images please contact: UNIQLO USA PR Contact UNIQLO USA, Inc. 101 6th Avenue, 11th floor, NY, NY 10013 T: 212 969-5815 (showroom) 　　917 237-8800 (store) E: press@uniqlo-usa.com

UNIQLO JAPANESE PREMIUM DENIM -- BRINGING A CULT FAVORITE TO EVERYONE

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:00:20 -0500

UNIQLO Unveils Spring Denim Line Featuring the Latest Fits and Washes for Men, Women, and Kids
FEBRUARY 22, 2007 (NEW YORK AND TOKYO) – UNIQLO’s spring denim line is proof positive that fashionable, well-made, premium denim jeans can be affordable and accessible. Ranging in price from $19.50 (for kids) to $59.50 (for adults) with the core price line at $39.50, UNIQLO’s denim line features the world’s best Japanese denim combined with cutting-edge fits, styles and washes, making them the perfect jeans for anyone and everyone who loves denim. “Japanese denim is the best in the world and highly sought after by both denim enthusiasts and fashion-savvy consumers,” said Yuki Katsuta, senior vice president of global research and design for UNIQLO. “But until now, was either hard to get or incredibly expensive. However with UNIQLO’s spring denim collection, we are excited to be able to offer our customers the same high quality Japanese premium denim sold by the world’s top designer denim labels, but at a fraction of the price.” Unlike American mass produced jeans, UNIQLO only uses Ring denim, which has a textured surface and is woven from ring yarn to give the jeans a rugged and natural fade. To give its jeans the richest color possible, UNIQLO’s partner denim producer uses a technique called rope dyeing, which keeps the core of each thread white, while giving the perimeter a beautiful indigo color. All of the men’s and women’s denim for the spring collection comes from Japan, with nearly all of it sourced from Kaihara, a premium denim producer founded in 1893 and one of the world’s most renowned denim suppliers. Kaihara has been a long time partner for UNIQLO, with over 8 years of business together. UNIQLO is able to provide the best quality denim at extremely competitive prices as it operates 700+ stores worldwide. UNIQLO’s design team in Japan developed the spring premium denim line that features a variety of fits, from skinny to wide, and finishes in every shade of blue to black.

Women’s Fits:

Extreme Skinny Fit Jeans for $39.50
Skinny Fit Tapered Jeans for $39.50
Skinny Fit Straight Jeans for $39.50
Slim Fit Straight Jeans for $39.50
Slim Fit Bootcut Jeans for $39.50
Regular Fit Straight Jeans for $39.50
Regular Fit Bootcut Jeans for $39.50
Regular Fit Wide Leg for $59.50
Extreme Wide Leg Jeans for $59.50

Men’s Fits:

Skinny Fit Jeans for $39.50
Slim Fit Straight Jeans for $39.50
Regular Fit Straight Jeans for $39.50
Relaxed Fit Straight Jeans for $39.50
Regular Fit Bootcut Jeans for $39.50
Classic Regular Fit Straight Jeans for $59.50

Children’s Fits:

Girls Stretch Bootcut Jeans for $19.50
Girls Premium Skinny Jeans for $29.50
Girls Premium Bootcut Jeans for $29.50
Boys Regular Fit Jeans for $19.50
Boys Premium Straight Jeans for $29.50

This coming fall UNIQLO will add additional fits and finishes to its premium denim collection including Real Vintage and Selvage denim. Selvage denim are jeans made in the traditional way with antique looms. The fabric edges of Selvage denim have a woven finish rather than being cut and overlocked like other denim. The UNIQLO SoHo NY global flagship is located at 546 Broadway, between Prince and Spring Streets. Store hours: Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 9 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 8 PM.

In addition, UNIQLO has three other stores in the U.S.:

UNIQLO Menlo Park Mall - Edison, NJ
UNIQLO Rockaway Townsquare ? Rockaway, NJ
UNIQLO Freehold Raceway Mall ? Freehold, NJ

About Uniqlo Clothing says a lot, but you can say it better. UNIQLO designs, manufactures, markets and sells casual wear that can be worn by anyone, any day. Rather than dictate a look, UNIQLO provides people everywhere with the piece they need to create their own style. And style comes from within, which is why the UNIQLO logo is nearly invisible, tucked away inside the garment. This concept, along with an unwavering focus on quality and value, has guided UNIQLO’s actions since the establishment of its first store in 1984 Hiroshima, Japan. Today UNIQLO has grown to over 760 UNIQLO stores worldwide and is household name in Japan. From t-shirts and sweaters to denim, outerwear and trend items, all of our clothes are made according to exacting Japanese standards for quality and come in an astonishing variety of colors and styles. UNIQLO is committed to providing customers with true excellence and innovation in casual wear, from the design and functionality to the fit and color choices. As a company, UNIQLO controls every stage of the creation of its products—from the fabric used to the stringent production control program at the factory and finally to the display at the store. We use the world’s best resources to give customers something better every time. UNIQLO is a brand of FAST RETAILING and among the top 10 specialty apparel retailers in the world. Other group companies include Theory in the U.S., COMPTOIR DES COTONNIERS and Princesse tam.tam in France, and g.u., CABIN, ONE ZONE, FOOT PARK, VIEW COMPANY and ASPESI in Japan. For more information, visit www.uniqlo.com or www.fastretailing.com. For further information or images please contact: UNIQLO USA PR Contact UNIQLO USA, Inc. 101 6th Avenue, 11th floor, NY, NY 10013 T: 212 969-5815 (showroom) 　　917 237-8800 (store) E: press@uniqlo-usa.com

UNIQLO Opens First Global Flagship Store in Downtown Manhattan

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 08:33:00 -0500

Bringing Japan’s Most Popular Casual Wear Brand into the Hands of Fashion-Savvy New Yorkers With a 36,000 Square Foot Store in SoHo, New York

NOVEMBER 10, 2006 (NEW YORK, NY) – After much anticipation, the wait is finally over. Today, UNIQLO, Japan’s most popular apparel retailer and a worldwide leader in casual wear, opened its first global flagship store and the world’s largest UNIQLO in New York City, the fashion capital of the world. Located at 546 Broadway, the 36,000 square foot UNIQLO SoHo NY features the very best of UNIQLO - stylish, high-quality and affordable clothing and accessories, complemented by an unparalleled modern Japanese shopping experience in a stunning architectural landmark.

“It is fitting that New York City is the home of our first global flagship,” said Tadashi Yanai, chairman and CEO of FAST RETAILING, the parent company of UNIQLO. “Not only is New York City the international fashion capital of the world, but it is also where the original idea for UNIQLO came to me while visiting as a young man in the late 1960’s. I was inspired by the bustling energy of the city and how some retailers were able to create a seemingly calm and organized environment that allowed shoppers to explore and experience at their own pace. Since that time, UNIQLO has grown into one of the largest apparel retailers in Japan and the first major Japanese apparel brand to go global. The UNIQLO SoHo NY global flagship store is the cornerstone of our plan to develop a strong presence in the United States by offering consumers of all ages the perfect balance of fashionable, basic casual wear at the lowest prices in the market."

The look and feel of the UNIQLO SoHo NY global flagship can best be described as “functional beauty,” featuring meticulous organization and streamlined design embodied in the iconic store architecture and fixtures. Designed by the renowned architect Masamichi Katayama, the global flagship authentically recreates the unique and pleasant experience of modern Japanese retail culture, offering an environment that is beautiful, clean, well-lit and organized and in which every customer is greeted with true Japanese hospitality. The look is simple, allowing the products to speak for themselves. However, in keeping with UNIQLO’s appreciation of heritage, this sense of modern simplicity is juxtaposed by the presence of key architectural elements of the original space, such as exposed brick walls and large white columns.

The completion of the UNIQLO SoHo NY global flagship is the inauguration of UNIQLO’s plan to transform into a global retail brand – becoming more than a company with stores around the world, but rather a company that transcends cultural boundaries, appealing to customers around the world. To best reflect this new stage in UNIQLO’s evolution, the UNIQLO SoHo NY flagship will feature unique products and styles only available at this location.

“In Japan, UNIQLO is best known for two key attributes, quality and basics. But the sheer size and scope of the new global flagship allows us the opportunity to experiment and to evolve the brand both here in the US and throughout the world,” said Nobuo Domae, CEO and president of UNIQLO USA, INC. “Consumers should expect the unexpected from UNIQLO in New York, meaning that the UNIQLO SoHo NY flagship will offer an impressive array of fashion-forward, on-trend pieces along with our signature items such as 100 percent Mongolian cashmere sweaters, fleeces and Japanese denim.”

Modern Japan in NYC

“Modern Japan” is an integral inspirational theme for UNIQLO's global flagship. Creative Director Kashiwa Sato was charged with expressing the atmosphere of today’s Tokyo throughout the retail space. To bring this theme to life the flagship will feature a large gallery space to exhibit limited edition and exclusive t-shirts designed for UNIQLO by top Japanese artists, including Yayoi Kusama, Nobuyoshi Araki, Takashi Honma, Osamu Tezuka, Godzilla, among others. There will be a total of more than 100 different t-shirts designed by 40 renowned artists. The T-shirts will be sold exclusively at the NY store during the fall/winter 2006 season. Beginning in spring of 2007 they will be sold in UNIQLO stores around the world.

A Global Brand with a Global Style

The UNIQLO SoHo NY global flagship will initially feature UNIQLO’s fall/winter 2006 collection, the first collection to include the participation of UNIQLO’s New York City design studio. Formed in early 2005, the New York design studio is part of a Tokyo-led project to capitalize on the wealth of creative talent from around the world. Design teams working collaboratively in Tokyo, New York, Paris and Milan developed UNIQLO’s fall/winter 2006 collection to express the brand’s global aesthetic and style. The international design team is headed by Yuki Katsuta, senior vice president of global research and design, who came to UNIQLO after serving as the vice-president of men's merchandising at Bergdorf Goodman.

UNIQLO in the United States

The UNIQLO SoHo NY global flagship is located at 546 Broadway, between Prince and Spring Streets. Store hours: Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 9 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 8 PM.

In addition, UNIQLO now has three other permanent stores in the U.S. and two temporary stores:

UNIQLO Menlo Park Mall – Edison, NJ
UNIQLO Rockaway Townsquare – Rockaway, NJ
UNIQLO Freehold Raceway Mall – Freehold, NJ
UNIQLO Rockefeller Temporary Store – 30 Rockefeller Plaza on the Concourse Shopping Level
UNIQLO Upper West Side Temporary Store – 2231 Broadway, between West 79th and 80th Streets

About Uniqlo

Clothing says a lot, but can say it better. UNIQLO designs, manufactures, markets and sells casual wear that can be worn by anyone, any day. Rather than dictate a look, UNIQL provides people everywhere with the piece they need to create their own style. And style comes from within, which is why the UNIQLO logo is nearly invisible, tucked away inside the garment.

This concept, along with an unwavering focus on quality and value, has guided UNIQLO’s actions since the establishment of its first store in 1984 Hiroshima, Japan. Today UNIQLO has grown to over 760 UNIQLO stores worldwide and is household name in Japan.

From t-shirts and sweaters to denim, outerwear and trend items, all of our clothes are made according to exacting Japanese standards for quality and come in an astonishing variety of colors and styles. UNIQLO is committed to providing customers with true excellence and innovation in casual wear, from the design and functionality to the fit and color choices. As a company, UNIQLO controls every stage of the creation of its products—from the fabric used to the stringent production control program at the factory and finally to the display at the store. We use the world’s best resources to give customers something better every time.

UNIQLO is a brand of FAST RETAILING and among the top 10 specialty apparel retailers in the world. Other group companies include Theory in the U.S., COMPTOIR DES COTONNIERS and Princesse tam.tam in France, and g.u., CABIN, ONE ZONE, FOOT PARK, VIEW COMPANY and ASPESI in Japan. For any press related inquiries, visit www.uniqlo.com or www.fastretailing.com.

For further information or images please contact:

UNIQLO USA PR Contact
UNIQLO USA, Inc.
101 6th Avenue, 11th floor, NY, NY 10013
T: 212 969-5815 (showroom)
　　917 237-8800 (store)
E: press@uniqlo-usa.com

LISTEN UP WORLD! 15 Amazing Break-the-Mold Japanese Bands

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 05:46:46 -0500

NOVEMBER 1, 2006 – NEW YORK and TOKYO – SYNCHRO / FROM TOKYO TO NEW YORK is a compilation of 15 numbers by Japanese bands that deserve global recognition, created to celebrate the opening of UNIQLO SOHO NY. The groups on this CD blow away old categories like major versus indy, genre, age, and geography. Jazz, lounge, techno, house, hip-hop, electro, you name it, but why draw lines in this chaotic music scene where genres blend and blur, evolving a musical sensibility unlike any other in the world. The numbers on this CD are very Japanese and all music. Are you ready for it?

Tomoyuki Tanaka / Fantastic Plastic Machine

RELEASE DATE

November 10, 2006

TRACK LISTINGS

1.	Magic Colors (exclusive mode) / TAKESHI NAKATSUKA	LISTEN
2.	Make Somebody Smile feat. Paul (Smile and Super. edit) / i-dep	LISTEN
3.	Different Nu Nu (Pt.2) / Towa Tei	LISTEN
4.	STRIP GRIND / HIFANA	LISTEN
5.	CHUNK FUNK EXPRESS FEAT. TUCKER / UC A.K.A. DJ UPPERCUT	LISTEN
6.	sweats / eater	LISTEN
7.	dance dance dance dance / Fantastic Plastic Machine feat. SU (RIP SLYME)	LISTEN
8.	APACHE / AFRA&INCREDIBLE BEATBOX BAND	LISTEN
9.	kick&snea's ballade / MU-STARS	LISTEN
10.	lalala / ALTZ	LISTEN
11.	SCREW THE PLAN FEAT. OLYMPIC LIFTS (dEAD deAD HALF gOOD REMIX) / HALFBY	LISTEN
12.	SkyHigh / FreeTEMPO	LISTEN
13.	Spartacus / INO hidefumi	LISTEN
14.	Music is mine / Nujabes	LISTEN
15.	New Birth / Cubismo Grafico	LISTEN

UNIQLO Unveils Temporary Locations in Rockefeller Center and the Upper West Side and Offers a “Sneak Preview” of the Soho NY Global Flagship

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:29:15 -0500

UNIQLO Global Flagship Store in Soho NY set to open November 10, 2006

OCTOBER 12, 2006 – NEW YORK and TOKYO – Taxi tops, phone booths, posters, billboards and roving Cargo Container stores—what else will UNIQLO, Japan's most popular apparel retailer and a worldwide leader in casual wear, think of to create even more excitement for the November 10th opening of UNIQLO Soho NY, the brand's global flagship and the world's largest UNIQLO? New Yorkers won't have to wait long to find out as UNIQLO today announced the opening of two temporary store locations in Rockefeller Center and at 2231 Broadway on the Upper West Side. Both shopping spaces will give consumers the opportunity to “sneak preview" what's to come this November when the UNIQLO Global Flagship opens—stylish, quality and affordable clothing complemented by an unparalleled modern Japanese shopping experience.

“Our global flagship will be very different and unique from anything seen from UNIQLO, either here in New York or in Japan," said Nobuo Domae, CEO and president of UNIQLO USA INC.“UNIQLO's root concepts are quality and basics but the new global flagship will add a further element to the mix – a sense of global fashion and style. We felt it was important for both our loyal consumers and those unfamiliar with UNIQLO to get a sneak preview of the flagship merchandise, and the Rockefeller Center and Upper West Side preview stores are an exciting way to showcase our products' new look."

The Rockefeller Center preview store will be located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza on the Concourse Shopping Level. The 1,100 square foot shopping space will be open to the public beginning Friday, October 13, and will remain open until the end of the year. The 1,200 square foot Upper West Side preview store will be located at 2231 Broadway between West 79th and 80th streets and will be open before the end of the month.

As is always the case with UNIQLO,, the Rockefeller Center and Upper West Side preview stores will be stocked with stylish, high-quality clothing at affordable prices like its extremely popular cashmere. In addition, consumers can expect these shopping spaces to have other items that will reflect sophisticated fashion, a pop of preppy and even urban country looks.

With the weather getting brisk, women can wrap themselves up in cashmere sweaters, trenches and velvet blazers while sporting one of the hottest items of the season: skinny jeans made of the finest Japanese denim in a variety of washes (starting at $39.50). For men, corduroy blazers and moleskin jackets are the perfect layering pieces to go with the wide variety of cashmere and denim options offered by UNIQLO (starting at $39.50).

Once the UNIQLO Soho NY flagship opens on November 10, both preview stores will remain open, shifting into more concept-oriented shopping spaces similar to the UNIQLO Cargo Container stores. Recent Cargo Container stores featured “100% Cashmere" and the “Japanese Pop Culture T-Shirt Project" concepts.

UNIQLO's Rockefeller Center preview store is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza on the Concourse Shopping Level. Store hours: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

UNIQLO's Upper West Side preview store is located on Broadway between 79th and 80th streets. Store hours: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

UNIQLO Appoints Maria Dziedzic As Design Director for Men's

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 19:26:04 -0500

New York, NY September 11, 2006 – UNIQLO announces the appointment of Maria Dziedzic as the design director of men's. In this position, Ms. Dziedzic will report to Yukihiro Katsuta, president of Uniqlo Design Studio NY, Inc. She will oversee the men's design team in New York as well as collaborate with the Uniqlo global design team with offices in Paris, Milan, and Tokyo.

A graduate of London's Royal College of Art, Maria Dziedzic was a freelance design consultant for such companies as Stetson, Todd Smith, Federated Department Stores, and Elie Tahari menswear just prior to joining UNIQLO. Before her freelance position, she worked at Michael Kors for 4 years where she served as vice president menswear design for the Collection and Michael lines. There she was in charge of all aspects of design direction, brand development, and positioning for Michael, which launched in 2005. Prior to that, Dziedzic worked as the design director of menswear at Saks Fifth Avenue, overseeing the private label brands for the company. Previously, she was the creative director of menswear at Nautica Int. Dziedzic has also held design positions at Gucci and Seattle Pacific Industries.

Yukihiro Katsuta said, “With her tremendous experience in the menswear arena, Maria is the ideal choice to lead the men's design team here in New York. She understands the Uniqlo vision and the lifestyle that our customer aspires to lead. At UNIQLO we strive to deliver high quality, high taste clothing at a great value..”

Ms. Dziedzic said, "I am thrilled to be joining the UNIQLO team and look forward to working with such a talented group of designers. Having a keen knowledge of the menswear industry, I hope to bring this already successful global brand to the next level by sharing my insight and perspective."

UNIQLO's Japanese Pop Culture T-Shirt Project

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 19:24:52 -0500

UNIQLO :: UNIQLO—Japan's most popular apparel retailer and worldwide leader in casual wear, is opening its global flagship store in SoHo New York this fall.
PROJECT :: “Modern Japan” is one of the themes of UNIQLO's global flagship. The preparation is well under way, with Creative Director Mr. Kashiwa Sato and Interior Designer Masamichi Katayama (Wonderwall) creating a space that expresses “the atmosphere of today's Tokyo.”; As the centerpiece of our store, we will have a gallery space that exhibit T-shirts designed by the top Japanese artists, including Yayoi Kusama, Nobuyoshi Araki, Takashi Honma, Osamu Tezuka, Godzilla, to name a few. There will be total of more than 100 different T-shirts designed by 40 renowned artists. Artworks, books, CDs, and other merchandise will be sold on premise together with T-shirts.; Every t-shirt has been commissioned from 40+ designers to communicate their vision of Modern Tokyo. It is truly unique to see such variety and breadth of vision on the same theme. The range of work from designers, photographers, painters, animators, graphic designers, illustrators, Japanese woodblock printers, traditional Japanese stencil patternmakers and many more “on exhibit” in this gallery-like space at the center of the new store will bring this vision to life.
TIMING :: The T-shirt gallery will be set up when the flagship store opens. The T-shirts will be exclusively sold at the NY store during fall/winter 2006 season, after will be sold throughout UNIQLO stores around the world.

UNIQLO Container Stores Arrive!

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:19:18 -0500

WHO :: UNIQLO--Japan's most popular apparel retailer and worldwide leader in casual wear.
WHAT :: “UNIQLO is Everywhere”--- Arriving from Tokyo, Uniqlo “container stores,” in the form of a ship's cargo container go directly from the pier to the streets to bring the best of UNIQLO to all New Yorkers in a unique and convenient way.; The 20' W X 8' D X 8' H container stores designed by LOT-EK, weigh approximately 15,000 pounds fully loaded. This includes merchandise, IT equipment and the container itself.
WHEN :: The UNIQLO container stores will appear beginning Labor Day weekend, September 1-3 and continue every subsequent weekend until the Uniqlo Global Flagship store opens this October 2006 in SoHo.
WHERE :: Different locations for different people to illustrate UNIQLO's democratic philosophy.; The locations will include a wide variety of New York City neighborhoods such as:; West Village, NYU area, East Village, Upper West Side, Union Square, Upper East Side, Jones Beach, Cobble Hill Brooklyn, Coney Island.; The merchandise will vary according to time and location to reflect the unique demographic of each neighborhood's customers.
WHY :: The UNIQLO Container Stores announce the arrival of Uniqlo to NYC and are precursors to the 36,000 square foot UNIQLO SoHo global flagship, due to open in the Fall. The new SoHo global flagship will be the boldest and most innovative example of modern Japanese style outside of Japan.
HOW :: UNIQLO Container Stores will arrive on a flatbed truck and lifted via a crane and placed onto the street.

From Tokyo to New York: About UNIQLO

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:20:51 -0500

UNIQLO is Japan's most popular apparel retailer and a worldwide leader in casual wear. The brand's mission is to empower all individuals through the clothing they choose to wear. Rather than become characterized by a brand, UNIQLO encourages its customers to integrate its pieces into their own unique style. UNIQLO's Soho global flagship will be the brand's largest retail store anywhere in the world, featuring exclusive products and styles in a dynamic, cutting-edge environment. UNIQLO has recruited many of the industry's top talents, stars and arbiters of style to design and manage the 35,000 square foot Soho flagship.

Working with over 100 factories throughout Asia, UNIQLO is distinctive in that it combines the quality and craftsmanship that is synonymous with Japanese culture with the ability to manufacture in high volume, thereby offering consumers affordable everyday products with exceptional attention to every detail. For this reason, UNIQLO's can offer its customers denim from the same denim fabric mill used by many high-end denim brands at a substantial savings.

Other brands have basics, but UNIQLO's are made according to the Japanese tradition of exacting quality. Every element of production is overseen by their takumi team – fourteen Japanese textile masters, each with over 30 years of specialized experience in their field (sewing, dying, fabric, etc.). UNIQLO places a special emphasis on precision, function and special details that enable the customer to put together their very own look. Each UNIQLO product represents several distinctly Japanese qualities -- classic simplicity and tranquility combined with advanced technology and up-to-the-minute modernity.

Other brands value their customers, but only UNIQLO's Soho flagship store can truly represent the unique experience of Japanese retail culture, offering an environment that is beautiful, clean, well-lit and organized. UNIQLO takes a democratic approach to sales, striving to offer clothing that is universally appealing to all ages, genders and cultures. True Japanese hospitality greets every customer at UNIQLO, where people come first and all are treated with kindness and warmth.

The Fall / Winter 2006 collection is the first to include the participation of UNIQLO's New York design studio, which was founded in the fall of 2005. The New York Design Studio is part of a Tokyo-led project that also includes design teams in Tokyo and Paris. The project is headed by Yuki Katsuta, Senior Vice President of Global Research and Design, who came to UNIQLO after serving as the vice-president of men's merchandising at Bergdorf-Goodman.

The collection presented to you today is made up of three individual categories:

Sophisticated Minimalism offers consumers simple, modern looks with sharp tailoring and fitted silhouettes with a bit of a twist that are perfect for the office. The line is monochromatic, using a very sophisticated color palette of black / gray contrasting with white / beige. Celebrating the classic beauty of a white shirt, the line also includes tight pants and skinny ties to create a streamlined silhouette.

Sophisticated Fashion is stylish and fashion conscious, incorporating a color pallet of brown, beige and off-white with strong accents of red for men and pink for women. This is the perfect daywear for the modern fashion conscious career man.

The Preppy Student category includes timeless, classic looks inspired by Ivy League college students in a color palette of browns with candy inspired pastels. Men's products include classic shirts, argyle sweaters and looser corduroy pants for a more casual silhouette.