Report: Japan's Uniqlo to Exit Russia, Paving Way for Sale of Business

FILE PHOTO: A shopper looks on, inside a Fast Retailing's Uniqlo casual clothing store in Tokyo, Japan January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A shopper looks on, inside a Fast Retailing's Uniqlo casual clothing store in Tokyo, Japan January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo
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Report: Japan's Uniqlo to Exit Russia, Paving Way for Sale of Business

FILE PHOTO: A shopper looks on, inside a Fast Retailing's Uniqlo casual clothing store in Tokyo, Japan January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A shopper looks on, inside a Fast Retailing's Uniqlo casual clothing store in Tokyo, Japan January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

Japanese brand Uniqlo has decided to leave Russia after suspending its operation there last year, paving the way for a sale of the business, the Izvestia newspaper cited Russia's deputy trade minister as saying.

Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing suspended the clothing brand's operations in Russia in March, 2022, joining scores of international companies, after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in what it dubbed a "special military operation".

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Yevtukhov said the company has decided to completely leave Russia but has not yet submitted an application to the government, which means the chain has no buyer yet, Izvestia reported on Tuesday.

"I think they can offer potential buyers their business model," Izvestia cited Yevtukhov as saying. "The Japanese retailer will be able to offer ... lease agreements, popular points of sale with the good buyers traffic and equipment."

Fast Retailing said in a statement its operation in Russia remains suspended, adding some stores were closed with "no foreseeable prospects to resume operations."

The company will continue to monitor the situation closely and make decisions accordingly, the statement said.

Tadashi Yanai, the founder of Fast Retailing, told Japanese media earlier that Uniqlo was operating 50 stores in Russia.



PUMA Opens New Creative Hub to Foster Excellence in Design

Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand. AP
Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand. AP
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PUMA Opens New Creative Hub to Foster Excellence in Design

Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand. AP
Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand. AP

Sports company PUMA has opened Studio48, a new creative hub at its headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where its designers and creatives can come together to freely develop new ideas and create concepts for new performance and Sportstyle products as well as campaigns.

Studio48 is part of the company’s strategy to create sustainable growth by elevating the brand.

“With the new Studio48 we are creating a significant tool to enhance the excellence of our designs and elevate the brand,” said PUMA’s Vice President Creative Direction & Innovation Heiko Desens. “While many of our products are created digitally, Studio48 will be a space for a different kind of creativity, where our designers from different departments can brainstorm together, exchange best practices, experience new materials and touch and feel the products they want to make.”

While Studio48 can be used by the company’s designers and creatives all year round, the space will also play an important part when hosting external partners or bringing PUMA’s global design community together for workshops and events.

As part of the opening event in December, PUMA hosted a workshop at Studio48 by US-based upcycler Nicole McLaughlin, who shared her vision on circularity. The event was joined by PUMA designers across all product categories from several of the company’s worldwide locations.