The CEO of Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, has publicly confirmed that the global fashion retailer does not use cotton sourced from the Xinjiang region of China,. This marks the first time Tadashi Yanai has directly addressed the contentious issue, which has drawn attention due to allegations of forced labor involving the Uyghur Muslim minority.
Xinjiang cotton was once prized for its quality but became controversial after reports surfaced about its association with forced labor. In response to US sanctions, many global brands, including H&M and Nike, distanced themselves from Xinjiang cotton, facing backlash in China. At the time, Yanai had remained neutral, avoiding any comment on whether Uniqlo used the cotton to maintain its position in the Chinese market, which remains vital for the brand.
Now, with growing calls for transparency in sourcing materials, Yanai clarified that Uniqlo has stopped using Xinjiang cotton, although he refrained from further political comments. “It gets too political if I say anymore,” he remarked.
As Uniqlo continues to expand globally, particularly in Europe and the US, China remains its most significant market, both in retail and manufacturing. Yanai expressed plans to increase store numbers in China, highlighting the country’s enormous potential despite challenges.
In the face of fierce competition from fast-fashion giants like Shein, Yanai has also emphasized Uniqlo’s commitment to sustainability, stating that the future lies in durable, timeless clothing rather than cheap, disposable fashion. With a vision to become the world’s largest fashion retailer, Yanai’s strategy hinges on balancing global expansion with ethical sourcing and consumer demand for responsibility in production.
NEWS SOURCES
ARY NEWS, CNN, BBC NEWS, DAWN NEWS
