Fast Retailing announced that it will open two Grameen Uniqlo stores in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as its first stores. The opening date is July 5th.
The company established a local subsidiary in Bangladesh in September 2010. The following August, it established a joint venture, GRAMEEN UNIQLO Ltd., with the Grameen Group, known for its microfinance program targeting the poor, and launched a social business.
While traditionally focused on door-to-door sales in rural areas, the new stores in Dhaka aim to develop a new social business through clothing design, production, and sales. The store aims to contribute to the local community by providing high-quality, low-priced products that bring joy to people and creating jobs.
The two Grameen Uniqlo stores feature a simplified design while maintaining Uniqlo's unique concept of "aesthetically conscious ultra-rationalism." They will offer unique products, primarily functional products made from durable, comfortable synthetic fibers, with materials sourced and produced locally. The two stores will have sales floor space of approximately 99.5m² and 75.5m², respectively. They will carry 32 men's items and 10 women's items. Prices range from 190 taka to 1,190 taka (approximately 255 yen to 1,580 yen). The company also announced two initiatives in Bangladesh to support women's advancement in society. The first is a $1 million donation to the Asian University for Women. The university is Asia's only international university dedicated to cultivating female leaders, with approximately 60% of its students receiving full scholarships. Through this donation, Fast Retailing will ensure that all ambitious women have the opportunity to study at university, without financial constraints forcing them to abandon their pursuit of higher education. The second initiative is support for women's soccer in Bangladesh. This initiative is part of a joint project between UNIQLO and tennis player Novak Djokovic, UNIQLO's global brand ambassador. The project will target approximately 1,200 girls aged 10 to 15 from 64 teams in seven regions across Bangladesh, and will provide technical instruction, tournament planning and management, leadership training, and awareness-raising on gender and women's rights. The project will last approximately three years, and Uniqlo clothing will also be provided as training wear.
The company established a local subsidiary in Bangladesh in September 2010. The following August, it established a joint venture, GRAMEEN UNIQLO Ltd., with the Grameen Group, known for its microfinance program targeting the poor, and launched a social business.
While traditionally focused on door-to-door sales in rural areas, the new stores in Dhaka aim to develop a new social business through clothing design, production, and sales. The store aims to contribute to the local community by providing high-quality, low-priced products that bring joy to people and creating jobs.
The two Grameen Uniqlo stores feature a simplified design while maintaining Uniqlo's unique concept of "aesthetically conscious ultra-rationalism." They will offer unique products, primarily functional products made from durable, comfortable synthetic fibers, with materials sourced and produced locally. The two stores will have sales floor space of approximately 99.5m² and 75.5m², respectively. They will carry 32 men's items and 10 women's items. Prices range from 190 taka to 1,190 taka (approximately 255 yen to 1,580 yen). The company also announced two initiatives in Bangladesh to support women's advancement in society. The first is a $1 million donation to the Asian University for Women. The university is Asia's only international university dedicated to cultivating female leaders, with approximately 60% of its students receiving full scholarships. Through this donation, Fast Retailing will ensure that all ambitious women have the opportunity to study at university, without financial constraints forcing them to abandon their pursuit of higher education. The second initiative is support for women's soccer in Bangladesh. This initiative is part of a joint project between UNIQLO and tennis player Novak Djokovic, UNIQLO's global brand ambassador. The project will target approximately 1,200 girls aged 10 to 15 from 64 teams in seven regions across Bangladesh, and will provide technical instruction, tournament planning and management, leadership training, and awareness-raising on gender and women's rights. The project will last approximately three years, and Uniqlo clothing will also be provided as training wear.
