https://www.scmp.com/rss/37221/feed Uniqlo is Japan's leading clothing retail chain, and also has outlets in China, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Japanese retailers are scaling back in north China as fierce competition and weak pricing power erode profitability, forcing store closures in major cities and prompting calls for a sharper localisation strategy. Groups such as Aeon and Ito-Yokado have closed outlets in Chinese cities in recent years, highlighting mounting pressure from domestic rivals and shifting consumer habits in the region. Aeon said it closed three supermarkets in Tianjin and one in neighbouring Hebei province after March... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348978/japanese-chains-aeon-ito-yokado-retreat-north-china-instant-retail-race-heats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348978/japanese-chains-aeon-ito-yokado-retreat-north-china-instant-retail-race-heats?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall After 16 years of studying shoplifting in Japan and testing ways to curb the problem, academic Tomoo Okubo believes he has found the simplest and most effective deterrent: a friendly greeting from a member of staff. Shoplifting has grown steadily worse in Japan in recent years – a trend accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Okubo, a professor of criminal psychology at Kagawa University. He says official case numbers reflect only a fraction of the real total. “The prefecture where... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338566/japans-shoplifters-hate-simple-hello-more-cameras?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338566/japans-shoplifters-hate-simple-hello-more-cameras?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li From shoes and clothing to food, daily necessities, logistics services and even university sponsorships for orphans, donors from all walks of life have come together to support survivors of the Tai Po fire, Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades. Beyond the HK$3.3 billion (US$385 million) contributed by the private sector and the government as of Saturday, many compassionate people gave what they could in a show of solidarity. The fire has so far claimed 159 lives, including that of a firefighter, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335435/shoes-scholarships-hongkongers-unite-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335435/shoes-scholarships-hongkongers-unite-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 04:00:23 +0000 Sheena Khemaney Sheena Khemaney The holiday season is well and truly upon us. Thankfully, our expertly curated gift guide is here to charm even the choosiest recipients on your Christmas list. From refined wardrobe essentials for the unfailingly well-dressed to little indulgences for the littlest ones, here are some of the finest gifts to give (or hopefully receive) this Christmas. Uniqlo beanie Thom Browne pullover Furla bag Loro Piana cuddly toy Wheat dress Ugg Kids clogs https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3334105/christmas-2025-gift-guide-childrens-looks-ugg-uniqlo-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3334105/christmas-2025-gift-guide-childrens-looks-ugg-uniqlo-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 20:00:10 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Harvey Kong Lo Hoi-ying,Harvey Kong An exterior wall of a shopping centre in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay caught fire during the lunch hour on Tuesday. Multiple videos circulating online show the artificial plants lining the wall of Lee Theatre Plaza – opposite Times Square and running from the ground to the third floor – were engulfed in flames. Police said they received multiple reports that a billboard in Causeway Bay had caught fire at 12.53pm. The Fire Services Department deployed a water jet and rescue team equipped with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334058/multi-storey-wall-hong-kongs-lee-theatre-plaza-catches-fire-lunchtime?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334058/multi-storey-wall-hong-kongs-lee-theatre-plaza-catches-fire-lunchtime?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 06:43:46 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar The 2025 New York City mayoral election is right around the corner, and Democratic nominee Zohran Kwame Mamdani is winning the internet. The New York State Representative, 34, who won the Democratic primary after Andrew Cuomo conceded in June, is going viral for his quips against the former NYC governor at a mayoral debate last week. Cuomo – who resigned from his position as New York City’s governor after being accused of sexual misconduct in 2021 and is currently running for mayor as an... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3330155/zohran-mamdanis-approachable-style-he-blends-new-york-grit-his-indian-and-ugandan-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3330155/zohran-mamdanis-approachable-style-he-blends-new-york-grit-his-indian-and-ugandan-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal A new trend has emerged in Hong Kong’s commercial property landscape as the retail sector slowly recovers: non-food and beverage (F&B) brands are turning to casual dining to entice young consumers and get more out of their premises. Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo carved up some space for a cafe in its refurbished Cityplaza outlet in Taikoo Shing last year and American luxury brand Ralph Lauren went further by opening standalone Ralph’s Coffee shops in high-end malls like Harbour City in Tsim... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3328190/new-trend-among-fashion-brands-setting-cafes-drive-store-traffic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3328190/new-trend-among-fashion-brands-setting-cafes-drive-store-traffic?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:03:37 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Uniqlo is focusing on revamping its 32 outlets in Hong Kong rather than expanding its footprint amid sluggish retail sales, as the popular Japanese fashion retailer contends with a decline in revenue and profit from its Greater China region. However, revamping existing stores sometimes includes leasing more space. For example, a store currently under renovation and set to reopen on October 17 in Mira Place in Tsim Sha Tsui will nearly double to 27,000 sq ft. A new-look store in City Plaza in... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3324646/uniqlo-hong-kong-chooses-upgrades-over-expansion-it-aims-evolve-local-needs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3324646/uniqlo-hong-kong-chooses-upgrades-over-expansion-it-aims-evolve-local-needs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 01:30:15 +0000 Cherry Liu Cherry Liu Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, 34, has recently become the focus of intense rumours about whether he is dating Lisa from Blackpink. The buzz began after fans noticed both stars using Lisa’s new single “Dream” as background music to a similar scenic photo on their Instagram stories. Sakaguchi was also present at Blackpink’s “Deadline” concert in South Korea alongside Lisa’s family members. The rumours were fuelled further when a photo of Lisa playfully biting a man’s arm emerged, with the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3321978/who-kentaro-sakaguchi-lisa-blackpinks-rumoured-beau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3321978/who-kentaro-sakaguchi-lisa-blackpinks-rumoured-beau?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 22:00:17 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa The Don Don Donki store in Causeway Bay is buzzing as always, and the Kuromi shelf is already picked clean. Joyce C stares at the empty space and sighs. Around her, shoppers scoop up other Sanrio items: Hello Kitty erasers, My Melody hair clips, Cinnamoroll stickers. “Whenever I go to Donki to buy Kuromi merch, it’s always sold out,” she says, half-exasperated, half-amused. The 22-year-old has been steadily building her Kuromi collection since she started working, but her attachment to the... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3319390/discreet-charm-sanrios-hello-kitty-unleashes-power-cute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3319390/discreet-charm-sanrios-hello-kitty-unleashes-power-cute?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre A fixture at the top shows at Paris Fashion Week and beyond – from Saint Laurent to Sacai – Lucien Pagès is the definition of a PR maven. His eponymous agency, which last year was acquired by global marketing and communication group The Independents, has helped brands such as Jacquemus and Schiaparelli reach new heights and has propelled the careers of many independent designers. With offices in New York and Paris, and clients spanning the globe, Pagès is a globetrotter and a Renaissance man, as... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3316953/style-according-lucien-pages-founder-eponymous-pr-agency-shares-his-favourite-hotels-london-and-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3316953/style-according-lucien-pages-founder-eponymous-pr-agency-shares-his-favourite-hotels-london-and-new?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:00:16 +0000 Sarah Keenlyside Sarah Keenlyside On Instagram feeds cluttered with polished 3D renders and AI-generated everything, the retro charm of pixel art cuts through like a glitch in the matrix. And right now, one of the genre’s rising online stars just happens to be a 33-year-old Hongkonger. For ex-gamers, or frankly anyone who grew up in the glow of a Game Boy screen, a single post by the creator known as Fatbeard delivers an instant dopamine hit of nostalgia. Best known for his nuanced depictions of Japan, he recently got a... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3316997/hong-kong-pixel-artist-going-viral-his-nostalgic-instagram-art?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3316997/hong-kong-pixel-artist-going-viral-his-nostalgic-instagram-art?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 10:14:23 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Tennis superstar Roger Federer is now one of the few athletes who can count themselves a billionaire. Federer, who won 20 grand slam titles between 2003 and 2018, amassed US$130.6 million in prize money during a 24-year playing career that ended in 2022. But the bulk of the Swiss star’s wealth has come via a series of bumper sponsorship deals, alongside an astute investment in a local sneaker brand. His net worth is about US$1.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, putting him... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3316201/roger-federers-long-term-deals-see-him-become-tennis-first-billionaire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3316201/roger-federers-long-term-deals-see-him-become-tennis-first-billionaire?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 12:00:14 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa On June 2, luxury conglomerate LVMH confirmed one of fashion’s worst-kept secrets: designer Jonathan Anderson will be taking over Dior as the brand’s sole creative director. News of Anderson’s appointment comes mere days after Dior womenswear creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s exit was announced. “I think this is going to be great for the maison. There will be consistency and coherence in the products, but also in terms of communication, I think our message will be much clearer,” Delphine... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3312876/who-jonathan-andersons-boyfriend-pol-anglada-northern-irish-designer-was-just-named-diors-sole?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3312876/who-jonathan-andersons-boyfriend-pol-anglada-northern-irish-designer-was-just-named-diors-sole?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:00:09 +0000 Yuke Xie Yuke Xie When Leo Li Minguang walked into a Zara store for the first time in Japan in 2005, the 32-year-old treasurer at a construction firm was entranced. Bright lights, thumping dance music and racks of boldly patterned women’s clothes adorned the space. It felt like a fashion show – nothing like the drab department stores he was used to. “I saw a business opportunity right there and asked how much it would cost me to franchise,” he said. “They told me that wasn’t an option.” Convinced that there was... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3296120/how-make-it-america-pressures-and-pitfalls-chinese-brands-going-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3296120/how-make-it-america-pressures-and-pitfalls-chinese-brands-going-global?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jan 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Fast Retailing this week has unveiled its fourth global flagship store for Uniqlo in Japan. This marks a return for the clothing brand to a major Tokyo shopping district, where it had closed an outlet in 2022. The new store, scheduled to open October 25, is in Shinjuku, one of the busiest commercial districts in the country. Shinjuku Station holds the Guinness World Record for the highest number of passengers boarding and departing every day. The store will offer not just all Uniqlo products... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3283612/uniqlo-opens-flagship-major-tokyo-shopping-district-aims-it-be-no-1-store?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3283612/uniqlo-opens-flagship-major-tokyo-shopping-district-aims-it-be-no-1-store?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Oct 2024 07:15:08 +0000 Yuke Xie Yuke Xie Middle-market apparel brands, once embraced by Chinese consumers for their affordability, are facing softening demand in the world’s second-largest economy as buyers opt for better value and consumption downgrade persists. Fast Retailing, the company behind Japanese brand Uniqlo, this month said revenue from its mainland China market had “struggled” in the nine months through May 31 from a year earlier, citing waning demand and a mismatch in its product offerings and local preferences. The shift... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3272993/uniqlo-nike-global-clothing-brands-struggle-china-against-white-labels-amid-consumption-downgrade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3272993/uniqlo-nike-global-clothing-brands-struggle-china-against-white-labels-amid-consumption-downgrade?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Aug 2024 01:30:18 +0000 Shopping for ourselves can be therapeutic, but it also feels nice to spoil our pets, and this weekend’s Cat Expo is the purr-fect place for those wanting to indulge their fur babies. Central Market is also worth a visit; it will host a variety of activities to mark Hong Kong Tramways’ 120th anniversary. And South Korean label Emis’ pop-up is a good bet for fashion lovers. 1. Cat Expo 2024 Cat lovers are in for a treat this weekend as the city’s annual Cat Expo returns to Hong Kong Convention and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3272730/5-shopping-events-hong-kong-weekend-august-2-4-cat-expo-fashion-pop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3272730/5-shopping-events-hong-kong-weekend-august-2-4-cat-expo-fashion-pop?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Aug 2024 05:15:10 +0000 Japan is a popular tourist destination with rich cultural heritage, incredible food and stunning nature in equal measure. But the land of the rising sun is also notoriously expensive, with CEOWorld Magazine ranking it the fourth most expensive country to live in for 2024. Recently, its currency – the Japanese yen – has taken a dive due to a variety of factors, resulting in a deeper economic turndown in the country. While that means more challenging times for its citizens, tourists are enjoying... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3261958/who-are-5-richest-billionaires-japan-net-worths-ranked-uniqlos-tadashi-yanai-and-softbank-groups?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3261958/who-are-5-richest-billionaires-japan-net-worths-ranked-uniqlos-tadashi-yanai-and-softbank-groups?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 May 2024 09:00:16 +0000 As Japan’s economy grapples with recession, its retailers are finding a silver lining in India’s vibrant market, where they have made significant inroads thanks to a burgeoning middle class and a growing consumer penchant for minimalistic, high-quality goods. While Japanese cars, watches and gadgets have long been popular among well-to-do Indians due to the high levels of craftsmanship, a new wave of mid-range retailers selling everything from fast fashion outfits to household goods is... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3255025/japans-uniqlo-muji-among-minimalist-brands-taking-young-indian-consumers-storm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3255025/japans-uniqlo-muji-among-minimalist-brands-taking-young-indian-consumers-storm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:30:10 +0000 He is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, with multiple records to his name. Roger Federer retired from tennis in September 2022, but has remained top of mind for many. Whether he is forging ahead with business partnerships or supporting the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup, Federer has shown fans a new side to himself after his tennis success. So what exactly has he been up to since? Roger Federer’s almost-billionaire status At 42, the Swiss maestro’s net worth has continued to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3254689/what-roger-federer-retirement-his-massive-uniqlo-deal-charity-work-africa-performing-coldplay-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3254689/what-roger-federer-retirement-his-massive-uniqlo-deal-charity-work-africa-performing-coldplay-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Mar 2024 11:00:14 +0000 Police in southern Japan have broken up a ring of Vietnamese thieves who took advantage of lax security at Uniqlo stores across the country, and an arrest warrant has been issued for a woman who allegedly masterminded the thefts. The incident highlights a growing trend of cross-border theft, driven by the allure of high-quality Japanese products, raising questions about the government’s trainee visa programme as well as concerns about security protocols. Police in Fukuoka prefecture arrested... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3251405/vietnam-groups-alleged-uniqlo-crime-spree-highlights-allure-japan-made-products?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3251405/vietnam-groups-alleged-uniqlo-crime-spree-highlights-allure-japan-made-products?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:38:40 +0000 From Adidas to Nike, apparel and footwear makers have been shifting their supply chains out of China, pushed by geopolitical tensions and pulled by lower manufacturing costs. But amid mounting global economic uncertainties and weakening consumer demand, many are discovering that finding alternative production hubs comes with its own challenges. Some are even upping stumps and moving back to the mainland. “That mature ecosystem, established over decades in China, not only ensures competitive... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3239773/why-clothing-makers-are-finding-it-hard-break-chinas-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3239773/why-clothing-makers-are-finding-it-hard-break-chinas-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:29:07 +0000 Women’s yoga pants up to six times more expensive than cheaper ones are not necessarily better, Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has found after it tested 20 brands of leggings costing between HK$149 (US$19) and HK$980. The Consumer Council, which revealed its findings on Tuesday, said there was a noticeable reduction in the stretchiness of some of the yoga pants from expensive brands it had tested, adding that they also had a slow moisture evaporation rate. Yoga pants priced between HK$149 and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231124/pricey-yoga-pants-not-worth-it-hong-kong-watchdog-finds-no-link-between-cost-and-quality-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231124/pricey-yoga-pants-not-worth-it-hong-kong-watchdog-finds-no-link-between-cost-and-quality-after?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:44:03 +0000 Japanese brands are once again in vogue in South Korea as improved relations between Tokyo and Seoul mean Korean consumers can buy Japanese cars, clothes and alcohol without fear of being criticised as “unpatriotic”, analysts have said. Companies such as Fast Retailing – the parent company of Uniqlo clothing, Asahi beer, Lexus cars, ABC Mart shoes and others are all reporting a surge in sales in recent months, paralleling an improvement in political ties between the two neighbours. Protests... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3215000/japans-uniqlo-asahi-and-lexus-brands-profit-warmer-ties-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3215000/japans-uniqlo-asahi-and-lexus-brands-profit-warmer-ties-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Mar 2023 10:16:35 +0000 The biggest challenge to Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo’s plan to take on the US? Getting more Americans to know who they are. The apparel maker, known for its affordable cashmere jumpers and solid basics, wants to go big in one of the world’s toughest consumer markets. Although Uniqlo is a fixture in shopping streets in New York and other coastal cities, parent Fast Retailing is giving its flagship clothing brand a hefty marketing budget to ensure it can reach the same level of awareness in Iowa... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3210969/japanese-fast-fashion-giant-uniqlo-mission-conquer-us-and-replicate-success-enjoyed-asia-and-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3210969/japanese-fast-fashion-giant-uniqlo-mission-conquer-us-and-replicate-success-enjoyed-asia-and-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Feb 2023 20:15:12 +0000 Standard Chartered, one of the three note-issuing banks in the city, plans to increase its headcount by up to 9 per cent this year to capture the growing business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and demand for green finance, its top boss in Hong Kong said. The London-headquartered bank, which makes most of its profit from emerging markets, will hire 300 to 500 additional staff to add to its current headcount of about 5,800 in Hong Kong, CEO Mary Huen Wai-yi said. “We need to hire more... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3210741/standard-chartered-boost-hong-kong-staff-it-turns-bullish-greater-bay-area-green-finance-ceo-mary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3210741/standard-chartered-boost-hong-kong-staff-it-turns-bullish-greater-bay-area-green-finance-ceo-mary?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:30:17 +0000 Twenty-four of the world’s largest and richest companies, including three based in Asia, have failed to deliver on their climate pledge, according to the latest report evaluating the transparency and integrity of corporate environmental strategies. The 2023 Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor, jointly released on Monday by the NewClimate Institute for Climate Policy and Global Sustainability and non-governmental organisation Carbon Market Watch, found that the climate strategies of those... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3209944/climate-strategies-foxconn-nestle-and-walmart-24-worlds-richest-companies-fail-deliver-promise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3209944/climate-strategies-foxconn-nestle-and-walmart-24-worlds-richest-companies-fail-deliver-promise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:30:22 +0000 Sustainability seems to be the predominant theme at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, with companies taking part echoing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. But for some visitors sustainability does not play an important role in their product purchases. Multinational corporations such as Uniqlo, McDonald’s, Thyssenkrupp and Siemens have made sustainable living and green products a key focus at this year’s expo. The Japanese apparel... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3198785/japans-uniqlo-highlights-sustainability-shanghai-trade-expo-not-all-visitors-buy-idea-green-living?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3198785/japans-uniqlo-highlights-sustainability-shanghai-trade-expo-not-all-visitors-buy-idea-green-living?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:30:12 +0000 Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo has turned to TikTok’s sibling app Douyin to reach more Chinese consumers amid sagging demand, as Alibaba Group Holding and other established e-commerce players face rising competition in retaining customers. The apparel retailer, which has three official Douyin accounts promoting its products, recently ran a series of live-streamed shows on ByteDance’s Chinese short-video platform, which allows users to directly buy Uniqlo merchandise through the app. It also... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3192347/uniqlo-chases-chinas-shoppers-tiktok-sibling-douyin-e-commerce-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3192347/uniqlo-chases-chinas-shoppers-tiktok-sibling-douyin-e-commerce-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Sep 2022 11:00:14 +0000 Su Bong Zen Monastery, in the heart of Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, has noticed a rise in visitor numbers since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Zen is more important than ever as our world becomes more difficult,” says Minh Tran, a representative of the monastery. “Through Zen practice, we open our mind to attain truth, access wisdom and compassion, and find the correct human way to help all beings ease suffering.” Su Bong Zen Monastery, a registered non-profit charitable organisation... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3177563/history-zen-its-roots-buddhism-how-ancient?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3177563/history-zen-its-roots-buddhism-how-ancient?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 May 2022 00:15:21 +0000 Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing will keep its stores in Russia open, joining a small group of international firms that are staying put even as dozens of big brands temporarily halt operations or exit the country over its invasion of Ukraine. Political pressure is building on companies to halt business in Russia, while operations have also been complicated by sweeping sanctions affecting everything from global payments systems to a range of hi-tech products. Large shippers have suspended container... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3169620/ukraine-war-uniqlo-stays-put-russia-netflix-levis-and-others?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3169620/ukraine-war-uniqlo-stays-put-russia-netflix-levis-and-others?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Mar 2022 22:00:21 +0000 Japan’s richest man and founder of clothing retail giant Uniqlo has indicated he will not change his firm’s business operations in China even as Tokyo gets caught up in growing rivalry between Washington and Beijing, pointing to how Japanese firms have “no choice but to make money in markets across the world”. Asked for his take on US-China tensions, Tadashi Yanai, CEO of Uniqlo’s parent Fast Retailing, told Japan’s Nikkei newspaper that despite fractious relations across trade to security,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3161574/japans-uniqlo-ceo-tadashi-yanai-says-wont-get-sucked-us-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3161574/japans-uniqlo-ceo-tadashi-yanai-says-wont-get-sucked-us-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Dec 2021 10:00:59 +0000 Overnight tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has an estimated net worth of US$6 million after leaping from a world ranking of 365 in April, to No 22 by September, after winning the US Open women’s singles. At the age of 18, she has already landed multimillion-dollar deals with luxury brands including Tiffany & Co. It’s clearly not going to stop there, but how big can she really get? Here’s why the young Brit is already being tipped to become first female billionaire sportswoman in the world … What’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3152507/will-emma-raducanu-become-first-billionaire-sportswoman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3152507/will-emma-raducanu-become-first-billionaire-sportswoman?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Oct 2021 21:00:18 +0000 Benetton’s advertising campaigns were designed to be unforgettable. Somewhat ironically, 30 years on, they are the only thing many of us remember about a brand that was once hugely successful. The images that provocative art director Oliviero Toscani created for the Italian brand were plastered on walls, in train stations and airports, and across glossy magazines. All were controversial – largely because they contained moments completely unrelated to fashion, such as a newborn baby with the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3150237/what-happened-united-colors-benetton-how-zara-hm-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3150237/what-happened-united-colors-benetton-how-zara-hm-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:00:26 +0000 The United States completed the withdrawal of its military from Afghanistan shortly after midnight Kabul time, Pentagon officials said on Monday, bringing to an end a 20-year mission sparked by the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001. Marine General Frank McKenzie, the head of the US Central Command, said in a Pentagon news briefing that the last troops sent to evacuate Americans and Afghans at risk following the Taliban‘s return to power flew from Hamid Karzai International... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3146962/afghanistan-last-us-forces-leave-kabul-chaotic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3146962/afghanistan-last-us-forces-leave-kabul-chaotic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Aug 2021 21:39:12 +0000 Ever since several brands chose to remove Xinjiang cotton from their supply chain, Chinese official media, celebrities and Weibo patriots have all been focusing fire on those seen to be acting against China’s interests. This is not unusual, as China has in recent years been deploying its sharp economic power, such as banning the NBA, Taiwan’s pineapple and Australian coal. What is different in this case is the scale of the target: the global garments industry. Sharp power, however, can be a... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3127464/xinjiang-cotton-can-china-boycott-worlds-garment-makers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3127464/xinjiang-cotton-can-china-boycott-worlds-garment-makers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Mar 2021 22:15:10 +0000 A sweeping Chinese trend of grown women squeezing into childrenswear to show off their waistlines has been attacked by people online, who call the craze “unethical”. Online posts showing teenagers and women in their 20s posing in changing rooms of Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo in barely-there T-shirts have become wildly popular online recently. The fashion trend is called “BM style”, which stands for Brandy Melville, a popular but controversial Italian women’s clothing shop that stocks only... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3124249/uniqlo-stores-china-hit-craze-women-playing-dress-childrens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3124249/uniqlo-stores-china-hit-craze-women-playing-dress-childrens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Mar 2021 09:13:40 +0000 Hong Kong clothing entrepreneurs, who created household brands like Bossini, G2000 and Giordano in the 1980s, may have limited room to further grow their business at home – unless they look for partnerships in mainland China as a springboard to international market. That is the view of Bosco Law Ching-kit, who teamed up with Chinese gymnastic icon Li Ning to take control of Hong Kong-listed Bossini International Holdings earlier this year in an effort to revive the family-owned business after... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3104058/dont-expect-become-next-uniqlo-without-china-focused-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3104058/dont-expect-become-next-uniqlo-without-china-focused-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2020 05:30:19 +0000 Meet Tadashi Yanai, the richest person in Japan, worth an estimated US$31.9 billion – and more than US$6 billion richer than the second-richest person in Japan, Takemitsu Takizaki, according to Bloomberg. The 71-year-old’s fortune largely comes from his position as chairman, CEO and biggest shareholder (he owns 45 per cent) of Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo. So, how did he get there, and more importantly, what does he like to spend all that money on? Behind the brands: the 11... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3103610/uniqlo-ceo-tadashi-yanai-promised-step-down-70-now-hes-71?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3103610/uniqlo-ceo-tadashi-yanai-promised-step-down-70-now-hes-71?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2020 05:00:11 +0000 Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Uniqlo, H&M and Gucci are all names that we hear, desire and wear every day (if we’re lucky). But someone, somewhere, started those brands and grew them into the labels we know today. Collectively, it’s these entrepreneurs and creatives that have turned fashion into a US$2.5 trillion global industry – and made them unimaginably rich in the process. Curious to know who comes out on top? So were we, so read on to find out who the 11 wealthiest individuals in the fashion... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3102371/11-richest-people-fashion-meet-billionaire-brains-behind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3102371/11-richest-people-fashion-meet-billionaire-brains-behind?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:32:25 +0000 Fashion is a US$2.5 trillion global industry that has made its leading players, from designers and CEOs to founders and heiresses, very rich. The wealthiest person in fashion is Bernard Arnault, the chairman of LVMH, the world’s largest maker of luxury goods behind brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dom Perignon, Christian Dior, and Fendi. Others on the list include Giorgio Armani, the founder of Nike, the Japanese billionaire behind Uniqlo, and the Spanish retail mogul who owns Zara. Read on for the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3101135/fashion-billionaires-ranking-top-15-richest-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3101135/fashion-billionaires-ranking-top-15-richest-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2020 09:15:12 +0000 Political flare-ups in Asia are putting the brakes on Fast Retailing Co.’s overseas growth momentum, as the operator of Uniqlo apparel stores reported the worst quarterly revenue decline in a decade for its international segment. Asia’s largest retailer, controlled by Japan’s top billionaire Tadashi Yanai, has long counted on overseas expansion to power growth in the face of a weak Japanese market. Now that strategy is coming up against the political protests in Hong Kong as well as a trade spat... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3045473/uniqlo-suffers-worst-overseas-sales-drop-decade-hong-kong-protests-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3045473/uniqlo-suffers-worst-overseas-sales-drop-decade-hong-kong-protests-south?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2020 02:45:13 +0000 By Kim Hyun-bin Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo is again embroiled in controversy in Korea for a contentious advertisement that Koreans believe tries to make a political statement about wartime forced labour and sex slavery during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Uniqlo, which has fallen victim to a campaign to boycott Japanese goods, recently released a TV commercial, designed to promote its “25 years of fleece”. The advertisement shows, Iris Apfel, a 98-year-old fashionista and a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3033839/japanese-brand-uniqlo-pulls-ad-after-accusations-defaming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3033839/japanese-brand-uniqlo-pulls-ad-after-accusations-defaming?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Oct 2019 06:13:22 +0000 Everything about the photograph taken to mark the opening of the store screams out the 1980s. Its name – Unique Clothing Warehouse – is in a square font beloved of science-fiction movies of the time; hairstyles take us to the same decade; customers peering through the windows are wearing baggy jeans with turned-up bottoms or pleated skirts; and everyone is wearing white shoes, trainers for the men and flat slip-ons for the women. The photo was taken on June 2, 1984, in the Fukuromachi district... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3029602/uniqlo-story-single-store-global-fashion-empire-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3029602/uniqlo-story-single-store-global-fashion-empire-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Sep 2019 01:15:11 +0000 At 38 years of age, Roger Federer is still playing some of the best tennis of his career, and turning it into tournament trophies. The former world number one is one of the most successful players of all time. He has won the men's singles tournament at Wimbledon alone eight times since 2003, as well as 20 Grand Slam singles titles all over the world. For me, the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority Roger Federer Federer is not only one of the most talented athletes on the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3025482/how-did-roger-federer-become-richest-tennis-player-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3025482/how-did-roger-federer-become-richest-tennis-player-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Sep 2019 18:00:09 +0000 Tadashi Yanai, Fast Retailing’s 70-year-old billionaire founder, said he would prefer to be succeeded by a woman, which would be better for Asia’s largest retailer. “The job is more suitable for a woman,” said Yanai, the chief executive officer behind clothing giant Uniqlo. “They are persevering, detail-oriented and have an aesthetic sense.” As Yanai gets older, he’s been asked more frequently about succession at the company, which he built from his father’s tailor shop into a global brand. A... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3025597/uniqlo-founder-tadashi-yanai-wants-be-succeeded-female-boss-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3025597/uniqlo-founder-tadashi-yanai-wants-be-succeeded-female-boss-job?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Sep 2019 01:24:13 +0000 Li Ning, the Chinese sportswear maker whose shares have more than quadrupled in the past two years, may get another boost to its stock-market performance. The Beijing-based company, which was founded by the Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast of the same name, said it has hired Kosaka Takeshi from Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo as its joint chief executive officer, alongside Li Ning himself. Kosaka, a Japanese-Chinese, was formerly the chief operating officer of the Chinese unit of Uniqlo,... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3025370/chinese-sportswear-maker-li-nings-shares-jump-nine-year-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3025370/chinese-sportswear-maker-li-nings-shares-jump-nine-year-high?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Sep 2019 09:15:47 +0000 For every Topshop in the West, with its racks of ultra-hip dresses and crop tops, there’s an Urban Revivo in China peddling wide-legged summer pants and playful florals. For every H&M limited-edition collection in a tie-up with luxury designers, there’s a Peacebird collaboration with a rising Chinese fashion designer. With China poised to become the world’s largest fashion market in 2019, home-grown high-street brands are well placed to cash in. They’ve long occupied space in lower-tier cities... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3018369/five-chinese-high-street-fashion-brands-watch-they-go?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3018369/five-chinese-high-street-fashion-brands-watch-they-go?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jul 2019 05:00:11 +0000 Police in southern China are investigating the origin of a hidden camera installed in a women’s fitting room at a Uniqlo store, Chinese media reported on Tuesday. The camera was discovered when a customer using the changing room in the clothing chain’s store at the Xinghe iCO Longhua shopping centre in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, noticed a black spot the size of a sesame seed above a mirror, The Beijing News reported. “I stood on a stool and poked it, and it felt soft,” the woman was quoted as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3015001/chinese-police-investigate-camera-hidden-uniqlo-fitting-room?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3015001/chinese-police-investigate-camera-hidden-uniqlo-fitting-room?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2019 06:29:56 +0000