In 1997, Fast Retailing adopted a set of strategies from American retailer 

The Gap, known as

"SPA" (for specialty-store/retailer of private-label apparel), meaning that they would produce their
own clothing and sell it exclusively.[citation needed] They engaged the retail brand consultancy, CIA,
Inc./The Brand Architect Group, to guide the company through the realization of this strategy,
including consulting on merchandise, visual merchandising and display, store design and a new
logo designed by Richard Seireeni and Sy Chen of The Brand Architect Group's Los Angeles
office.[citation needed] Uniqlo had begun outsourcing their clothing manufacturing to factories in China
where labour was cheap, a well-established corporate practice.[citation needed] Japan was in the depths
of a recession at the time, and the low-cost goods proved popular. [9] Their advertising campaigns,
clothing quality and new retail layouts also proved fruitful. [10]
In creating its clothing lines, Uniqlo embraces both shun and kino-bi. Shun [旬] means 'timing,
best timing, but also at the same time it's a trend,' something that's updated and just in time,
neither early nor late. The company offers clothing basics, but basics that are current, that
respond to what's going on today in art and design. Kino-bi [機能美] means function and beauty,
joined together: the clothing is presented in an organized, rational manner, and that very
organization and rationality creates an artistic pattern and rhythm. All these qualities reflect the
defining characteristics of modern Japanese culture, modern 'Japaneseness.'

— Nobuo Domae, CEO, Uniqlo USA (April 2007)[1]

In November 1998, it opened their first urban Uniqlo store in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district, and
outlets soon spread to major cities throughout Japan. [citation needed] In 2001, sales turnover and gross
profit reached a new peak, with over 500 retail stores in Japan. [citation needed] When Uniqlo decided to
expand overseas, it separated Uniqlo from the parent company, [1] and established Fast Retailing
(Jiangsu) Apparel Co., Ltd. in China. In 2002 their first Chinese Uniqlo outlet was opened
in Shanghai along with four overseas outlets in London, England. [citation needed]
In 1997, Fast Retailing adopted a set of strategies from American retailer The Gap, known as
"SPA" (for specialty-store/retailer of private-label apparel), meaning that they would produce their
own clothing and sell it exclusively.[citation needed] They engaged the retail brand consultancy, CIA,
Inc./The Brand Architect Group, to guide the company through the realization of this strategy,
including consulting on merchandise, visual merchandising and display, store design and a new
logo designed by Richard Seireeni and Sy Chen of The Brand Architect Group's Los Angeles
office.[citation needed] Uniqlo had begun outsourcing their clothing manufacturing to factories in China
where labour was cheap, a well-established corporate practice.[citation needed] Japan was in the depths
of a recession at the time, and the low-cost goods proved popular. [9] Their advertising campaigns,
clothing quality and new retail layouts also proved fruitful. [10]
In creating its clothing lines, Uniqlo embraces both shun and kino-bi. Shun [旬] means 'timing,
best timing, but also at the same time it's a trend,' something that's updated and just in time,
neither early nor late. The company offers clothing basics, but basics that are current, that
respond to what's going on today in art and design. Kino-bi [機能美] means function and beauty,
joined together: the clothing is presented in an organized, rational manner, and that very
organization and rationality creates an artistic pattern and rhythm. All these qualities reflect the
defining characteristics of modern Japanese culture, modern 'Japaneseness.'

— Nobuo Domae, CEO, Uniqlo USA (April 2007)[1]

In November 1998, it opened their first urban Uniqlo store in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district, and
outlets soon spread to major cities throughout Japan. [citation needed] In 2001, sales turnover and gross
profit reached a new peak, with over 500 retail stores in Japan. [citation needed] When Uniqlo decided to
expand overseas, it separated Uniqlo from the parent company, [1] and established Fast Retailing
(Jiangsu) Apparel Co., Ltd. in China. In 2002 their first Chinese Uniqlo outlet was opened
in Shanghai along with four overseas outlets in London, England. [citation needed]