icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
10 Mar, 2022 12:16

Japanese clothing brand turns turncoat on Russia

Uniqlo now says it will be quitting the country, having previously said it would remain
Japanese clothing brand turns turncoat on Russia

Fast Retailing, the parent company of Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, has announced a temporary halt to its operations in Russia, according to a statement on its website.

Recently, we have faced a number of difficulties, including operational problems and an aggravation of the [Ukraine] conflict situation. For this reason, we will temporarily suspend our activities,” it reads.

Earlier this week, however, the company had said it would remain in Russia. Its owner, Tadashi Yanai, said “clothing is a necessity of life,” and that “the people of Russia have the same right to live as we do.” However, he has since faced increasing pressure to review this stance, with the hashtag #BoycottUNIQLO trending on social networks.

Uniqlo has 49 stores across Russia.

After a number of Western states imposed sanctions on Russia amid its ongoing military operation in Ukraine, dozens of foreign companies announced they would halt their activities in the country. Among them are fashion houses Prada and LVMH, and retailers of clothing, footwear and accessories H&M, Mango, Adidas, Nike, Marks & Spencer, Hugo Boss, Crocs, Zara, Massimo Dutti and others.

Despite the clothing industry not being directly subject to sanctions, analysts say brands are quitting Russia over fears about their public image in the age of cancel culture.

For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section

Podcasts
0:00
23:13
0:00
25:0