The Heart of LifeWear

UNIQLO launched The Heart of LifeWear, a global initiative to donate one million new HEATTECH thermals to people in need around the world in 2024. This initiative was born from our reflection on the question what makes life better? It was also our desire to take meaningful action to contribute to society through LifeWear in our 40th anniversary year.

Last holiday season, UNIQLO US worked alongside incredible partners to bring warmth to communities across the U.S. Together, we supported more than 17,600 people with HEATTECH clothing - because warmth isn't just about staying cosy, it's about care, connection, and hope.

Who We Supported:

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Last year they helped provide 5.9 billion meals to tens of millions of people experiencing hunger in the US. Four partner food banks within the Feeding America network received HEATTECH donations to distribute before the holiday season. Located in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, and Chicago, these food banks were supported by UNIQLO volunteers who joined for a dedicated visit to help unpack and distribute the items, ensuring families had warm clothes when it mattered most. "The holidays are a time to gather, share meals and find comfort with our loved ones. As a dedicated partner in the movement to end hunger, UNIQLO is making sure people have what they need to celebrate," said Lauren Biedron, senior vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America.

Covenant House serves youth overcoming homelessness and survivors of human trafficking by providing safe shelter, unconditional love, and relentless support. They are national partners of RE.UNIQLO, distributing gently used clothing donated by customers, to their network of shelters across the US. As part of our HEATTECH donation initiative, UNIQLO volunteers actively participated in the Covenant House Rally to End Youth Homelessness held in Times Square, New York City. During this event, volunteers worked together to pack and prepare essential HEATTECH items for later distribution, while raising awareness for youth homelessness across the country.

Native American Heritage Association (NAHA) supports families and individuals on reservations in South Dakota and Wyoming through food, clothing, heating, and emergency support. Through our HEATTECH and RE.UNIQLO initiatives, we successfully distributed essential winter clothing donations to over 500 families in the Pine Ridge community. This effort was made possible through close collaboration with Pine Ridge High School and the incredible support of local volunteers.

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal healthcare system in the nation, serving more than 1 million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations. The donated HEATTECH products will provide warmth and comfort to individuals served by NYC Health + Hospitals’ Street Health Outreach & Wellness (SHOW) program. SHOW supports unsheltered and unhoused New Yorkers in need of care, with a focus on patients who are historically disconnected from health and social services and who may otherwise be unable to access hospitals, as well as patients with substance use disorder.

The Heart of LifeWear initiative is proudly supported by UNIQLO LifeWear Special Ambassador, Haruka Ayase, alongside Global Brand Ambassadors Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, Shingo Kunieda, Gordon Reid, and Ayumu Hirano, as well as the Toray Group, which is one of the world’s leading materials innovators and tbe development partner for HEATTECH. At donation events, UNIQLO Ambassadors personally distributed HEATTECH items to recipients, shared warm greetings, and took part in sports clinics, talk sessions, and other activities designed to bring joy and hope to communities in need.

* Includes both HEATTECH and AIRism items, depending on the climate of the donation region. ** Figure for Singapore is the donation plan. Items are scheduled to be donated in March 2026.