Japanese lifewear retail brand UNIQLO enters Indian market
Uniqlo opens its first store at Ambience Mall, New Delhi and has plans to set up 2 more in DLF Avenue, Saket and DLF CyberHub in Gurugram soon.
NEW DELHI: At the time when the specter of slowdown looms large in India, the Japanese companies look upbeat about their future business prospects in India.
On Thursday, the Japanese lifewear retail brand Uniqlo preview launched the company’s first Indian store at Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.
Uniqlo stepped into India with Kagamiwari, a traditional Japanese ceremony organized to celebrate new beginnings.
Tadashi Yanai, founder, and Chairman of Uniqlo joined other executives for sake barrel-breaking when they broke open the lid of the sake barrel and serve the brew to everyone present.
Spread over 35,000 square feet of space at South Delhi upmarket mall occupying three floors, the store opens for the public on today, October 4.
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Tadashi Yanai, founder and Chairman of Uniqlo and President and Chief Executive Officer of Fast Retailing Group that owns the brand Uniqlo offered to say a few words of hope.
“21st century will be the century of India. Fast Retailing has long wished to open stores in India, in view of the tremendous potential of a nation of 1.3 billion people that generates annual GDP growth of 7 percent and has an average age of 27,” he said while interacting with media persons in New Delhi.
According to the company officials, the customers visiting the store would find Indian culture and colours all over its walls.
There are illustrations that capture the essence of daily life in the capital created by Dattaraj M. Naik, while local artist Johnson Kshetrimayum has worked with embroidery craftspeople to create an installation using Uniqlo lambswool. Both artworks are under the creative direction of Hanif Kureshi.
Tadashi Yanai told media persons, “Launching ourselves in the Indian market is a step ahead towards globalization. We aim to enhance lifestyles in India by creating more innovative apparel that draws on the nation’s distinct culture and traditions. We wish to contribute to India’s economic development in the process.”
