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CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
Gaia Series 94: UNIQLO's "Secondhand Clothing Project"
UNIQLO's bold secondhand clothing venture weaves sustainability with business, confronting challenges and redefining reuse. At the heart of the fast fashion landscape, UNIQLO is shifting its trajectory toward sustainability by exploring the potential of secondhand clothing. The latest episode of Dawn of Gaia follows the company's effort to make reused garments a viable business, treating this transformation not just as an environmental response, but a bold commercial experiment. In Paris, the UNIQLO Paris Opera store stands across from the historic Opera House. Though prices are more than 50 per cent higher than in Japan, customers remain loyal. A popular hoodie that costs around 4,000 yen (S$34.30) in Japan sells for approximately 6,400 yen in France. 'I always buy the same products at UNIQLO. The price is cheaper than other stores, and the product is great,' one shopper explains. Another adds, 'It's great quality for the price and great customer service.' Today, UNIQLO operates 2,541 stores across 26 countries and regions, and Fast Retailing, its parent company, reported revenue of 3.1038 trillion yen. Chairman Tadashi Yanai has bigger ambitions. 'A 10 trillion-yen target is not unrealistic at all,' he says. 'Changing clothes, changing norms, changing the world... this is the challenge we will continue to take on.' But the fashion industry's environmental record is hard to ignore. Global garment production has doubled in the past 20 years. But at the same time, the number of clothes that are thrown away have similarly increased. In Japan alone, about 1.5 billion garments go unsold each year and are often discarded. With the European Union preparing to ban the disposal of unsold clothing from 2026, the urgency to innovate has never been greater. At the Sendai warehouse, around 10 million used garments are collected annually. These clothes are sorted by hand and then donated to 81 countries and regions. Yet UNIQLO is determined to go further, not just recycling but creating a profitable business model around reuse. Tasked with launching this new venture is third-year employee Yoko Otaka. She is responsible for selecting and pricing garments for resale. But balancing cost and perceived value proves tricky. Uniqlo's clothes are already priced affordably, add to that laundry and shipping cost, it's hard to make a profit without increasing costs. But at the same time, as Otaka notes: 'Unless it's 1,000 yen, it might not feel like a bargain'. To add value, UNIQLO partners with Komatsu Matere, a dyeing factory in Ishikawa with over 80 years of history. Selected garments are dyed using a unique pressure chamber method. 'This dyeing method really brings out the charm of secondhand clothing,' says Otaka. 'That's why we chose this 'Gamedye' technique to attain these goals.' The Setagaya-Chitosedai store in Tokyo becomes the first test location. Items, including denim priced at 2,000 yen, are displayed in a way that encourages discovery. 'Grouped by colour but with variety within each group, so customers can still enjoy a broad selection,' Otaka explains. 'That gives it a slightly different feel from your typical UNIQLO store.' On March 29, test sales begin. Ayaka Enomoto from the Sustainability Department says to customers, 'Each piece is one-of-a-kind, a once-in-a-lifetime find, so please do have a look.' Early reactions are positive. 'Kind of like a secondhand clothes shop, but since it's UNIQLO recycling, it feels a bit more reassuring,' says one customer. Still, challenges surface quickly. At the Tenjin store in Fukuoka, which attracts a different demographic, issues around sizing become clear. 'A women's large is not the same as a men's large,' a customer points out. Another says, 'This is a women's medium?' with disbelief. Store staff also report that shrinkage often makes size labels inaccurate. 'Some pieces shrink one or two sizes,' one staff member notes. 'So using the original size label can actually cause more confusion.' In response, Otaka and her team begin remeasuring garments, starting with body width. 'We're figuring out what is the best method to manage size and colour,' she says. Clothes are now sorted by how far they reach on a measuring mat, and markers are colour-coded for easy reference. Despite such tweaks, the Setagaya store underperforms. In the first 20 days, it sells 334 items for a total of 680,000 yen, falling short of Otaka's target of 300 to 400 items per week. Koji Yanai, director of Fast Retailing, points out, 'It doesn't really feel like 'us'. It comes off as just a secondhand clothing shop.' The team regroups, seeking to address key concerns. One persistent issue is cleanliness. 'Some items still have a bit of a lingering smell,' a staff member reports. Back at UNIQLO's Shinonome factory, a special detergent blend is developed. 'It removes body oils from the fabrics without damaging weakened fibres,' explains knitwear specialist Mr Miyamoto. The results are promising. 'It used to be so flat. Now it's fluffy again,' one tester observes. 'The smell is... completely gone.' In October, the Maebashi Minami IC store is selected as a new trial site. This time, pricing is reviewed. Items once sold at 3,000 yen are reduced to 2,000 yen. 'Though profit shrinks due to high costs, they prioritised getting more hands on quality garments,' the narrator explains. The bold pricing strategy pays off. 'At 1,200 yen, well… it's quite affordable,' a customer comments after buying a shirt. 'Only UNIQLO could pull this off.' An unexpected insight emerges when smaller garments, shrunk beyond adult use, find a second life as children's wear. A mother comments, 'Actually, it's a perfect fit.' Signs featuring child models are added, and demand follows. 'There was demand in an unexpected place,' Otaka reflects. With all three test stores turning a profit, the project is handed over to the Sales Department in April for full commercialisation. Still, questions remain. 'Here in the 21st century, it's clear that chasing profit alone won't sustain a business,' Otaku muses, 'What exactly should UNIQLO secondhand clothing be?' Otaka asks. 'We're still figuring it out.' The episode closes with Otaka musing, Honestly, that's what I find really difficult right now. It's what I'm thinking about every day.' Her words encapsulate UNIQLO's dilemma: balancing the expectations of a global brand with the demands of a planet in crisis.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
UNIQLO X PopMart's The Monsters Labubu Collection Is Set To Drop This September 2025
Get ready folks, UNIQLO Singapore is set to launch its highly anticipated collaboration with Pop Mart, featuring the wildly popular Labubu characters from "The Monsters" series. This marks a new collection following previous successful Pop Mart x UNIQLO tie-ups, such as those featuring SKULLPANDA and DIMOO. In Singapore, fans can expect the UNIQLO x Pop Mart "The Monsters" Labubu collection to launch in September 2025. While an exact date within September is yet to be announced, anticipation is high given the past frenzy over Labubu merchandise. The collection will comprise 14 styles of T-shirts and sweatshirts. Prices for the collection are set to range between S14.90 and S39.90. UNIQLO has stated that there will be no purchasing limits per customer, but given the characters' immense popularity, items are expected to sell out quickly. Fans can look forward to designs featuring the playful elf-like Labubu, created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung. Expect vibrant and imaginative graphics, including various hand-drawn sketches, collages, and typography. Some designs will feature phrases like "We Are The Monsters," and will come in colors such as white, black, pink, and grey. This collaboration promises to blend Uniqlo's signature comfortable apparel with the whimsical and collectible charm of Labubu, making it a must-have for fans of both brands.
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
You can get free tickets to this weekend's Studio Ghibli film fest in L.A.—here's how
If the Venn diagram of your tastes has an overlap between Los Angeles, animation legend Hayao Miyazaki and UNIQLO clothes, it's your lucky week. "My Dear," the third collaboration between UNIQLO and Studio Ghibli, dropped Thursday, July 10 with 14 new designs expressing 'emblematic Ghibli works, along with works by Thai artist Kanyada Phatan and Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki,' according to a press release. Hardcore L.A. fans looking to grab an item from "My Dear" and willing to make the trek to the UNIQLO store at Century City or Glendale today, July 10 or tomorrow, July 11 have an additional opportunity to enjoy Studio Ghibli films: Their purchase of two items will include an exclusive free ticket (with a plus one included!) to a Studio Ghibli movie screening at Brain Dead Studios in the Fairfax District. (Note: Customers can get up to two sets of tickets each, equaling four tickets total.) The screenings begin at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 with Spirited Away, followed by Kiki's Delivery Service at 3:15 p.m., and Howl's Moving Castle at 5:30 p.m. Disappointingly, no word on whether wearing your new swag will score a discount on concessions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNIQLO UT (@ The entire collection is now available online and in stores, featuring adults and kids T-shirts and sweatshirts with art inspired by eight Studio Ghibli films: Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Tortoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, The Boy and the Heron, and Pom Poko. The previous collaborations came out in 2022 and 2023, making "My Dear" the first drop since The Boy and the Heron won the Oscar for Best Animated Film at the 2024 Academy Awards. Founded in 1985 by filmmakers Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli has produced 25 animated feature films, including three of Japan's highest-grossing films of all time: Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo. In 2001, the studio opened the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, designed by Hayao Miyazaki himself.
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
UNIQLO's latest viral pants are here: The Baggy Curve Jean is lightweight, affordable, stylish and comfortable
UNIQLO's new viral pant trend has arrived and you're going to want a pair for yourself. UNIQLO's Baggy Curve Jeans are quickly becoming the brand's next viral hit, following in the footsteps of its highly popular Barrel Leg Pants. Known for delivering everyday essentials with a stylish twist, UNIQLO has once again struck a chord with fashion-forward shoppers looking for both comfort and contemporary flair. Crafted from a soft and breathable cotton-lyocell denim blend, the Baggy Curve Jeans feature a flattering curved silhouette that adds volume at the sides while cinching at the high waist. The result? A relaxed yet sculpted shape that suits a variety of body types. Retailing for just $59.90, these jeans are affordable yet still good quality, making them a standout in this season's denim offerings. The Baggy Curve Jean comes in three wearable colours, dark gray, a washed denim as well as a darker blue denim. Available both in-store and online, the jeans have already begun gaining traction on TikTok, where users are showcasing their fits and styling tips. Fashion influencers have helped catapult the Baggy Curve Jean into the spotlight. TikTok Influencer, Nathan Roy @_nathanroy's video of the new Baggy Curve Jeans, amassed more than one million views and people in the comments were obsessed. 'I'm running as fast I can to UNIQLO, ' one impressed person wrote. 'I need these jeans now,' another person commented. 'Those jeans look so comfortable, ' a third person added. As the buzz continues to grow, it's clear this silhouette is on track to become one of the year's most talked-about denim trends. Shoppers on UNIQLO's website have given the Baggy Curve Jeans, a 4.9-star rating. 'Love the way these jeans looked on me,' one happy shopper commented. 'I've finally found the perfect pair of jeans that fit me,' another person wrote. 'These jeans feel extremely light and comfortable,' a third shopper added.
CNA
05-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Japan Hour - Gaia Series 94: UNIQLO's "Secondhand Clothing Project"
UNIQLO's push into secondhand clothing, aiming to marry sustainability with commercial viability, faces both innovation and obstacles.
