TOKYO - At a Uniqlo store in Setagaya City, a 45-minute drive away from the Japanese fashion brand’s flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo, a unique section has been set up.
Opposite the usual displays of sweaters, jackets and Heattech innerwear for the autumn-winter season are a number of racks advertising clothes at very affordable prices.Most items are priced under $20. For example, a pair of men’s shorts costs 790 yen (S$6.55) while a women’s parka retails for 1,990 yen. This is not Uniqlo’s bargain bin, nor is it its foray into a lower-priced fast-fashion space like that of its sister brand Gu.
It is, in fact, the company’s dedicated second-hand clothes section, reselling Uniqlo clothing that has been collected from customer donations at their stores. A number of items in this collection date back to around 20 years ago, with their labels containing an older version of the Uniqlo logo that I have never seen before.
The mix of modern and dated clothing designs is somewhat reminiscent of a thrift store, the ones you would typically find in the hipster districts of Tokyo. Above the racks, a sign in English says “Washed with care”, a statement of quality assurance from one of the world’s most popular casual wear brands.
This pre-owned project is part of Uniqlo’s Re:Uniqlo programme launched in 2020 to expand its sustainability efforts through extending the lifecycle of its products.
Started in March 2024 as an in-store trial and currently running in three Japan stores, Uniqlo said it is assessing the viability of stable procurement and selling a mixed range of clothes, before possibly launching in other cities in Japan as well as international markets.
Next to the pre-owned clothing section at the Setagaya store is a counter which Uniqlo calls its Re:Uniqlo Studio. Here, in addition to basic repair services, customers can have their damaged garments repaired via a traditional Japanese stitching method called sashiko, which uses simple stitches to create beautiful geometric patterns. Other kinds of patches featuring animal and flower designs are also available.
According to Uniqlo, its repair studios can be found at 66 stores across 23 countries and regions, including the global flagship store at Orchard Central. The sashiko service, however, is currently available only in Japan. More of this article (The Straits Times) - link - more like this (textile recycling) - link - more like this (Japan) - link
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