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SoHo has yet another chain store, this time the Japanese-based Uniqlo that opened just after 11 am this morning. At 546 Broadway in the new box-store district of SoHo, Uniqlo has a lot of competition—Old Navy and H&M are within spitting distance. And despite the slick flooring, glass elevators and very neat displays, the stuff is all made in China. I examined over 40 different articles of clothing—blazers, gloves, hats, coats, jeans, underwear and socks—and every single item was made in China. In case you were wondering why the prices are so low, that's why. While Old Navy might not exactly have the greatest interior designers, obviously it's that audience Uniqlo is targeting.
To quote Uniqlo's chairman Tadashi Yanai: The UNIQLO SoHo NY global flagship store is the cornerstone of our plan to develop a strong presence in the United States by offering consumers of all ages the perfect balance of fashionable, basic casual wear at the lowest prices in the market.
The fast fashion concept is wearing thin, to crib from an article in today's New York Times. And visiting Uniqlo, you can readily see why. But if you're a fan of garish lighting and all-white displays, then head up lower Broadway a bit to the NoHo branch of American Apparal, where you can get the finest garments made in the sweatshops of Los Angeles, as opposed to the sweatshops of Shenzhen.
Tags:
old navy, Tadashi Yanai, uniqlo
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Posted on 11/10/2006
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