Uniqlo - apparel and textile industry company news 
JAPAN: Uniqlo same-store sales fell in April
2 May 2013
Uniqlo saw sales in its Japanese stores fall during April, as unseasonably cool weather impacted sales.
Omni-channel retail: Online shopping platforms
1 May 2013
Despite the global recession, e-commerce continues to buoy the bottom line for successful retailers.
HONG KONG: Luen Thai completes $55m Ocean Sky buy
30 April 2013
Hong Kong listed Luen Thai Holdings, one of the world's leading apparel manufacturing and supply chain services providers, has completed its US$55m acquisition of Singapore-based Ocean Sky Group.
JAPAN: Fast Retailing raises forecasts on H1 growth
11 April 2013
Fast Retailing, the owner of Japanese casual clothing brand Uniqlo, has lifted its profit and sales forecasts for the current financial year after reporting double-digit gains in the first half.
JAPAN: March Uniqlo sales up on good weather
3 April 2013
Fast Retailing has attributed sales gains in its Japanese Uniqlo stores during March to consistently warm weather.
Focus: Apparel sales in Asia Pacific
27 March 2013
Apparel sales in the Asia Pacific region are continuing on a golden growth trajectory despite a slowdown in China. Domestic brands are continuing to hold their own, and foreign brands intent on making further inroads are increasingly focusing on lower-tier cities for growth.
US: Uniqlo recalls pyjamas on potential burn risk
15 March 2013
Japanese casual clothing retailer Uniqlo has recalled 700 children's pyjamas, which were made in China, because they do not meet federal flammability standards for children's sleepwear and pose a risk of burn injuries.
JAPAN: Uniqlo same-store sales rise 9.6% in February
4 March 2013
Casual clothing retailer Uniqlo has booked a 9.6% increase in Japanese same-store sales in February, driven by strong sales of winter apparel.
US: Gap coy on Fast Retailing takeover talk
18 February 2013
Specialty clothing retailer Gap Inc has remained coy on reports Japanese retail giant Fast Retailing has expressed interest in buying the company.
INDONESIA: Uniqlo plans first store
13 February 2013
Japanese casual clothing brand Uniqlo has revealed plans to open its first store in Indonesia this year.
Outlook 2013: Other issues to watch
4 February 2013
Generally, 2013 is seen as being another challenging year for the apparel industry – although there is cautious optimism for an improved business environment. Issues such as compliance, sustainability and product safety are likely to come to the fore, and keep a close eye on trade talks to expand duty-free opportunities such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Outlook 2013: Apparel industry opportunities
4 February 2013
Opportunities the apparel industry should focus on this year include developing strategic relationships to improve flexibility across the supply chain; a focus on adding value through design, innovation and branding to protect margins; and the use of technology to integrate the multichannel experience.
Outlook 2013: Lessons that should have been learnt
4 February 2013
What should apparel firms have learnt from the upheaval of the past couple of years - and what should they be doing now if they want to remain competitive into the future? They need to remain nimble enough to respond to changing buying patterns, develop strong partnerships across the supply chain, and focus on a sourcing portfolio that balances costs and risks.
Outlook 2013: Apparel industry challenges
4 February 2013
Uncertainty is perhaps the biggest challenge facing the apparel industry in 2013. The economic situation in Europe and the US, a combination of rising production costs and flat prices, the pressure to improve working conditions, a lack of new production centres and low volume growth in fashion all add up to a worrying year.
JAPAN: Uniqlo January same-store sales decline 5.5%
4 February 2013
Casual clothing brand Uniqlo has posted a 5.5% decline in Japanese same-store sales during January.
UK: Uniqlo to launch Celia Birtwell collection
1 February 2013
Japanese casual clothing retailer Uniqlo has teamed up with British textile designer Celia Birtwell to create a capsule clothing and accessories collection.
just-style's most read stories this week...
25 January 2013
The most read stories on just-style this week include Limited Brands making its toxic-free fashion pledge, the European Parliament calling for better factory health and safety measures in Bangladesh, and Uniqlo strengthening its US team with the appointment of a COO.
HONG KONG: Fast Retailing coy on Hong Kong listing
24 January 2013
Japanese retailer Fast Retailing has remained coy on reports its casual clothing brand Uniqlo is looking to list its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the first time this year.
US: Limited Brands makes toxic-free fashion pledge
22 January 2013
Apparel company Limited Brands, owner of lingerie brands Victoria's Secret and La Senza, has become the 14th major business to pledge to eliminate all releases of hazardous chemicals throughout its supply chain and across all products by 2020.
US: Uniqlo strengthens US team with COO appointment
21 January 2013
Japanese casual clothing retailer Uniqlo has appointed former Forever 21 executive vice president Lawrence Meyer as chief operating officer of its US division.
ITALY: Benetton commits to toxic-free fashion
17 January 2013
Italian fashion brand Benetton is to eliminate hazardous chemicals from its entire global supply chain and products by 2020.
just-style's most read stories this week...
11 January 2013
The most read stories on just-style this week include Luen Thai acquiring Ocean Sky's apparel operations, Russell Brands cutting 190 jobs, and Fast Retailing revealing it will eliminate hazardous chemicals from its global supply chain by 2020.
JAPAN: Fast Retailing lifts forecast on Q1 Uniqlo gains
10 January 2013
The Fast Retailing Group expects to book record sales and profits in its current financial year after reporting "considerable gains" across its business during the first quarter.
JAPAN: Fast Retailing to phase out hazardous chemicals
9 January 2013
Fast Retailing Co, operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain and Asia's biggest global fashion brand, is to eliminate hazardous chemicals from its entire global supply chain and products by 2020.
JAPAN: Winter clothing boosts Uniqlo December sales
4 January 2013
Strong sales of winter garments has helped Uniqlo to book a 4.5% rise in Japanese December same-store sales, the casual clothing brand revealed today (4 January).
Top ten interviews on just-style in 2012...
21 December 2012
Among the industry executives who spoke with just-style this year were Ranjan Mahtani, CEO of Epic Group; Henry Tan, CEO of Luen Thai Holdings; Andrew Lo, CEO of Crystal Group; and Marks & Spencer's Kate Bostock and Steven Sharp.
2012: A year in review - Retail winners and losers
14 December 2012
Faced with continuing challenging trading conditions in 2012, retailers responded with a number of different strategies to try to grow their businesses. International expansion, new and larger format stores, revamped product lines and sustainability initiatives were the chosen route for some, while others were forced to lay off workers to cut costs.
SOUTH KOREA: E-Land eyes sales of $9.32bn in China by 2016
12 December 2012
South Korean apparel conglomerate E-Land Group has set its sights on annual sales of KRW10tn (US$9.32bn) in China by 2016, according to local press reports.
SWEDEN: H&M launches clothing recycling scheme
6 December 2012
Fashion retailer H&M Hennes & Mauritz is set to launch a clothing recycling scheme which will encourage consumers to hand in used garments at H&M stores worldwide to be reused or recycled.
JAPAN: Uniqlo same-store sales up 13.7% in November
4 December 2012
Strong sales of winter clothing helped casual clothing retailer Uniqlo to book a 13.7% increase in Japanese same-store sales during November.
