Major Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo has said it ‘dreams’ of opening stores in Australia and New Zealand as soon as possible.
In announcing its global plans for expansion, the well-known apparel brand, which is operated by the Fast Retailing Company, said although specifics could not be confirmed, both countries were on its hit list.
Uniqlo spokesman Daisuke Hase said it was too early to say whether the company would launch a huge rollout of stores, or start with flagships shops in bigger cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
“We would like to go to Australia and New Zealand as soon as possible – we have a dream to go to there,” Hase said.
“We would like to meet with customers all over the world and once plans are fixed we will announce.”
Uniqlo has hundreds of stores in Japan and many in Russia, Hong Kong, China, France, the UK, the USA and many more.
Manufacturing of the casual clothing line mainly takes place in China and its neighbouring countries and Hase stressed that as and when Uniqlo opens in Australia and New Zealand, this would not change.
At a recent press conference, chief executive Tadashi Yanai said he wants to push for globalisation and open 200-300 stores worldwide each year.
“Uniqlo will become a global brand that will offer everyone in the world the chance to enjoy wearing truly great clothing,” Yanai said.
Yanai said that Uniqlo, which sells men’s and womenswear, is aiming to become ‘the number one brand’ throughout the world, rivalling the likes of Zara, Gap and other clothing department stores.
A spokesman for Myer said the group does not feel threatened by Uniqlo’s quest for retail domination as their department stores have a much larger range, store footprint and breadth of stores which appeal to a wide range of demographics and budgets.
“We are never complacent about competition. It is important to remember that as a department store we offer a very different proposition to specialty retailers like Uniqlo and Zara,” a Myer spokesman said.
Zara chose not to comment on Uniqlo’s plans.
Pippa Chambers