and so on.
Fact 1: The Aladdin's Lamp of Retail
Uniqlo originally started as a small division of a construction company in Hiroshima, Japan known as Ogori Shoji in 1949. In 1984, Uniqlo was conceptualized as the company's attempt to compete with the growing retail chains in America. The name 'Uniqlo' is actually a shortening of the company's original name, "Unique Clothing Warehouse."
Fact 2: The Entrepreneurial Epiphany
The idea for Uniqlo came to Founder, Tadashi Yanai, when he was on a business trip in America. He was inspired by the success of stores like Gap and decided that Japan needed a casual clothing store too, serving as the genesis for Uniqlo.
Fact 3: Rapid Expansion
The success of Uniqlo was imminent in Japan, prompting a rapid expansion. What started with a single store in 1984, exploded to around 100 outlets by 1994, and today, Uniqlo has over 2000 stores in 23 different countries around the world.
Fact 4: A Record-Breaking Store
In 2006, Uniqlo opened the world's largest retail store in terms of sales floorspace. The retail giant's store in Shanghai, China spans 5 stories and covers over 71,000 square feet.
Fact 5: HeatTech Evolution
Uniqlo's HeatTech clothing not only keeps you warm but even generates heat. This clothing revolution was a result of a collaboration with Toray, a Japanese textile firm. An upgraded version of HeatTech named HeatTech Extra Warm was introduced in 2015, which is 1.5 times warmer than the original HeatTech fabric.
Fact 6: Uniqlo and Shochiku Kabuki
Uniqlo collaborates with various companies and brands to deliver unique designs to its customers. In 2013, Uniqlo collaborated with Shochiku Kabuki, a traditional Japanese theater, to create a collection inspired by Kabuki performances and actors.
Fact 7: The UT Grand Prix Design Competition
Since 2005, Uniqlo has been running the UT Grand Prix T-shirt design competition. Designers from around the world compete for a chance to have their design featured on a Uniqlo T-shirt, earning them global recognition and a hefty cash prize.
Fact 8: The Unexpected Pop Culture Gladiator
Uniqlo doesn’t shy sway from pop cultural partnerships. It released a PlayStation-themed line of clothing in 2019 to celebrate PlayStation’s 25th anniversary, showcasing iconic game characters and logos.
Fact 9: Personalized Wardrobe Advice
In some flagship stores, Uniqlo provides a machine that uses artificial intelligence to recommend clothing items based on the customer's gender, age, and current temperature.
Fact 10: Allure of "Made in Japan"
Uniqlo brings back the pride of "Made in Japan" as it reopened the Urawa factory in Japan, showing that high-quality Japanese workmanship and efficiency can win over cheap labor abroad. It aims to show consumers that clothes made in Japan are made with superior quality.
Fact 11: The App Connection
In 2011, Uniqlo developed and launched their first-ever mobile application, UNIQLO CALENDAR, which connected Japanese culture and weather scenes with Uniqlo's clothing lines.
Fact 12: Sustainability Strides
Uniqlo headquarter building, located in Tokyo, is equipped with both solar power and geothermal power systems, testifying to the brand's sustainable ethos.
Fact 13: Relief Efforts
Uniqlo has a history of providing assistance to disaster-hit areas. In 2011, following the earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, Uniqlo donated $8.6m and provided 700,000 items of clothing to those affected.
Fact 14: More than Just a Clothing Brand
Uniqlo's tagline is "Made for All," which reflects its commitment to providing high-quality clothing for people of all ages, genders, and income levels. It also advocates for workplace equality, with women making up more than half of its workforce.
Fact 15: Designing for a Practical World
Uniqlo focuses on practicality rather than fashion. While other brands bring out new designs every week, Uniqlo focuses on LifeWear - clothing that is universal in design and comfort.
Fact 16: The Magic Mirror
Ever found it tiresome to try on different colored clothing? Enter Uniqlo's 'Magic Mirror'. Introduced in Uniqlo's San Francisco store in 2012, it uses color rendering technology to enable customers to virtually change the color of their clothing without changing clothes.
Fact 17: The AIRism Technology
Uniqlo’s AIRism technology is another innovation from its long-standing partnership with Toray. The Micro Polyester fabric in AIRism is designed to wick away moisture, offering cool comfort all year round.
Fact 18: The (Uniqlo) Art of the In-store Experience
In 2019, Uniqlo opened its first roadside store in the USA with a new design concept that deviates from the traditional vertical layout of urban Uniqlo stores. These roadside stores focus more on offering a lifestyle experience rather than just shopping.
Fact 19: The Uniqlo Jeans Innovation Center
Desperate to perfect denim, Uniqlo established its Jeans Innovation Center in Los Angeles in 2016. The center is a hub for global denim nerds to think up new ways to produce more advanced, high quality and comfortable denim.
Fact 20: Staying Ahead of the Tech Curve
Uniqlo has a creative solution to avoid long queues at the checkout counter. Their New York flagship store introduced a ‘Mobile Cashier’ system in 2018, where staff would roam around the store with mobile devices, so customers could make purchases anywhere in-store.