UNIQLO Opens First Global Flagship Store in Downtown Manhattan

    NEW YORK, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 - 8 PM,
 Sunday 11 AM - 7 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, 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.
     Images available upon request.
 
     FOR INFORMATION:
 
     Alexandra Cohan                David Nesmith / Ellie Hawke
     UNIQLO USA, INC.               Paul Wilmot Communications
     (212) 221-9037 ext. 232        (212) 206-7447 ext. 54 / 22
     alex.cohan@uniqlo-usa.com      dnesmith@greatpress.com
                                    ehawke@greatpress.com
 
 

SOURCE UNIQLO