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FOCUS: Topshop suffers a setback in Japan 31 Mar 2015

Topshop's bid to be a global player has suffered a setback in Japan, where the retailer shuttered its five stores earlier this year. Here Magdalena Kondej, head of apparel and footwear research at Euromonitor International, looks at the possible reasons why, and asks what happens next?

Japan's Uniqlo in multi-pronged attack on US market 24 Mar 2014

Premium Supima cotton, musician Pharrell Williams and New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) are spearheading the drive by Japan's Fast Retailing Co to expand its Uniqlo chain in the US market.

The Flanarant: China's competitiveness buoyed by Asia challenges 13 Nov 2013

Despite a decision eight years ago by Japanese brands and retailers to cut the amount of clothing sourced from China, garment imports from the country are on the rise. Mike Flanagan believes the reasons should resonate with buyers in the US and EU too.

Uniqlo means business with ambitious global plans 21 Sep 2011

Fast Retailing, owner of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, thinks big, talks big and has big ambitions - and analysts believe the company does indeed have what it takes to become the biggest clothing retailer in the world within the next decade.

ANALYSIS: Why the yen jump? 18 Mar 2011

After the devastation wrought by what is now officially known as the 'Great Tohoku Kanto Earthquake', Japan's currency rose in value. It was the last thing the under-pressure economy needed, and seems a little counter-intuitive given the hit the Japanese economy will be taking. Share prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange duly tumbled. So what's going on with the currency, asks Dave Leggett.

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Asics reinvestment weighs on Q1 earnings 16 May 2018

Japanese sporting goods giant Asics saw both its earnings and sales slide in the first quarter as the company invested in its five-year strategic plan and cut some low margin products.

Descente picks PLM to streamline operations 15 May 2018

Japanese sportswear maker Descente Ltd has invested in a PLM system to improve product development and standardise operations across its 15 brands.

Fast Retailing joins Canopy forest-friendly sourcing policy 26 Apr 2018

Fast Retailing, owner of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, has become the latest company to sign up to Canopy's policy that commits brands to stop sourcing the raw material for their viscose and rayon textiles from ancient and endangered forests.

EU seeks swift conclusion of Japan trade pact 24 Apr 2018

The European Union and Japan have taken another step towards completing their Economic Partnership Agreement – the biggest bilateral trade agreement ever negotiated by the two parties.

Fast Retailing ups FY on better than expected H1 13 Apr 2018

Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing has posted an increase in both earnings and revenue for the first half of fiscal 2018, booking much higher-than-expected first-half revenue and profit gains.

Polygiene to be used in denim for first time 8 Mar 2018

?Odour protection technology from Sweden's Polygiene AB is to be used in denim for the first time.

Magic Tape certified by Oeko-Tex Standard 100 27 Feb 2018

The polyester hook and loop fasteners made by Japan’s Kuraray Fastening Co have been certified by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for textile safety.

YKK develops its smallest symmetrical zipper 13 Feb 2018

Among the latest developments from Japanese fastener business YKK is a new zipper that has been created for luxury apparel and features the smallest symmetrical zipper in the entire YKK product range.

Asics Ventures invests in conductive textiles 7 Feb 2018

Asics Ventures, an investment subsidiary of  Japanese sporting goods giant  Asics, has made its first investment, taking a stake in AI Silk Corporation, a venture company affiliated with Tohoku University that develops conductive textiles.

TPP 11 prepare to sign new trade pact 25 Jan 2018

One year after the US withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, the remaining 11 countries have agreed to move ahead with a revised version of the agreement.