Uniqlo
Fast Retailing · Japan
Uniqlo is the Japanese casualwear brand founded by Tadashi Yanai, who opened the first store in Hiroshima in 1984, and the core brand of Fast Retailing. Known for its LifeWear philosophy and functional fabrics such as HEATTECH and AIRism, it operates more than 2,500 stores and is one of the world's largest apparel retailers.
| Founded | 1984, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Founder | Tadashi Yanai |
| Owner | Fast Retailing |
| Headquarters | Yamaguchi, Japan |
| Creative director | Clare Waight Keller (since 2024) |
| Stores | 2,519 (August 2025) |
| Website | uniqlo.com |
What is Uniqlo?
Uniqlo is a global casualwear retailer owned by Fast Retailing, whose chairman, president and chief executive is founder Tadashi Yanai. Rather than chasing trends, it focuses on high-quality, functional basics under the LifeWear concept. British designer Clare Waight Keller has been creative director since 2024, and Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran lead the Paris R&D centre and the Uniqlo U line.
History
Yanai took over his father's menswear business in Ube, Yamaguchi, and opened the first Unique Clothing Warehouse in Hiroshima in June 1984. The name Uniqlo stuck after a 1988 trademark filing in Hong Kong misread the C as a Q. Uniqlo entered the UK in 2001, mainland China in 2002 and the United States in 2005. HEATTECH launched in 2003 and AIRism in 2012, both developed with Toray Industries. A design partnership with Jil Sander ran from 2009 to 2011.
Products and positioning
Uniqlo sells basics for women, men and children, from innerwear and knitwear to down jackets, denim and printed T-shirts with artist licences. Its edge lies in fabric technology and consistent quality at accessible prices, with denim from Kaihara and synthetic fibres from Toray.
Business model and distribution
Uniqlo manages everything from design and materials to production oversight, inventory and retail, while partner factories in China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia and India make the products. At the end of August 2025 it had 794 stores in Japan and 1,725 abroad, with Greater China the largest overseas market. E-commerce accounted for about 15 percent of sales in the 2025 financial year.
Uniqlo and technology
- Fast Retailing says Uniqlo receives more than 39 million pieces of customer feedback a year and now uses AI to analyse it for product development.
- Fabric innovation with Toray underpins lines such as HEATTECH and AIRism.
Why it matters
Uniqlo is the clearest alternative to the fast fashion model: fewer, longer-lasting products sold in large volumes. Its growth has made Fast Retailing one of the world's largest apparel groups and a reference for vertical integration, material innovation and data-driven product development.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Uniqlo?
Uniqlo is owned by Fast Retailing, the Japanese group listed in Tokyo. Its founder Tadashi Yanai is chairman, president and chief executive and holds a significant stake.
Where is Uniqlo from?
Uniqlo is from Japan. The first store opened in Hiroshima in 1984, and the company grew out of a menswear business in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
