Japanese Uniqlo opens flagship on Oxford Street

LONDON (Kyodo) Clothing retailer Uniqlo celebrated the opening Wednesday of two shops on Oxford Street, London's main shopping strip, including a flagship store.

"The opening of the London flagship marks a significant milestone in Uniqlo becoming a truly global brand," Tadashi Yanai, chairman and CEO of Fast Retailing, Uniqlo's parent company, said ahead of the launch.

The three-story flagship covers 2,300 sq. meters and offers "stylish, high-quality and affordable" clothing and accessories for men and women.

The other store, about half the size of the flagship, is located farther down the street to complement its larger sister shop and together re-create a "unique experience of modern Japanese retail culture."

Created by Japanese interior designer and founder of Wonderwall, Masamichi Katayama, with the collaboration of award-winning graphic designer Kashiwa Sato, both buildings' histories were taken into account in the creation of the stores' iconic architecture.

"The London flagship is part of the next generation of global flagship stores for Uniqlo. Designed uniquely for Londoners, the emphasis is on innovation and exceeding customer expectations," Uniqlo U.K. Ltd. CEO Masayuki Nagatake said.

"Both of these stores will be perfect showcases for our products. New collections include fashion forward pieces, highlighted in specially merchandised areas, alongside our signature items such as 100 percent cashmere sweaters" and other products, Nagatake added.

Since opening its first British store in 2001, Uniqlo now has 13 outlets across the country, mostly in London, and has plans for nationwide expansion as well as growth across the rest of mainland Europe.

"I think that Uniqlo will be a strong company in the European market because it has a unique fashion sense in basic items which makes it highly competitive," Yanai said.