After London Debut, Uniqlo To Roll Out Sustainable Re.Uniqlo Studio

Japanese fast fashion retailer Uniqlo last week launched Re.Uniqlo Studio in its London Regent Street flagship store, ahead of a global roll-out of the sustainability initiative.

In doing so, it becomes the latest major fashion producer to ramp up its sustainable production and joins nearby Selfridges which recently pledged to make 50% of sales through recycling, repair, refills and reuse by 2030.

The next Re.Uniqlo Studio will open in its new Battersea Power Station store, due to open October 14. The company has plans to roll out the Re.Uniqlo Studio across more U.K. stores over the next 12 months and a number of European locations later this year.

Describing it as a “dedicated space for pursuing a new future for clothes”, Uniqlo’s aim is also to encourage repair, reuse and recycling among its customers as the company seeks to shift 50% of production to recycled materials by 2030.

The repair service has existed in the Uniqlo Regent Street store since the store opened in April and this is now housed in the Re.Uniqlo Studio, on the lower ground floor, providing customers with a place to bring in Uniqlo items that require some mending.

Trained staff take care of everything from hemming trousers and sewing buttons to mending holes and other damage and prices start from $3.50.

Uniqlo Sets Out European Ambitions

Uniqlo has long offered free alterations on selected bottoms but the Remake service will now provide customers with alterations and minor resizing to tailoring services on a wider range of items.

Alongside alterations and tailoring, Uniqlo also offers an “elevated service” turning Uniqlo clothes into fresh new apparel items with a host of repair and customization offerings including the Japanese Sashiko stitching technique.

This very old tradition encourages customers to mend, embellish and upcycle clothes to give them a new lease of life and keep them for an even longer time.

Maria Samoto le Dous – head of sustainability for Uniqlo Europe, said: “Uniqlo has offered repair and upcycling services in a number of stores since 2021, however Regent Street is the first to open the Re.Uniqlo Studio concept and we have ambitions throughout Europe to make similar offerings available to as many customers as possible.”

Essential accessories will also be available for customers to try to repeat these techniques at home, including Shozaburo scissors and Misuya Bari needles for Kyoto and Sashiko threads. Partnering with London based Studio Masachuka and pattern designer Zeena Shah, prices start from just under $12.

In addition to the bespoke service for customers who bring in their existing items, Uniqlo will showcase and sell an exclusive range of one-of-a-kind Uniqlo garments already reimagined using these techniques. Prices start from around $23.

Apparel no longer worn will be collected via the Re.Uniqlo Recycle bins on the lower ground floor and donated to in need communities. Uniqlo has donated 46.19 million items to 79 countries and regions worldwide as of August 31, 2021.

Product collected from the Recycle bins that is unsuitable for reuse contributes to the RE-Uniqlo circular program. These items are collected and used as raw materials or recycled into materials for new clothing or energy sources.

Re.Uniqlo A Global Initiative

“Re.Uniqlo Studio is a global initiative to pursue a new future for clothes – founded on Uniqlo’s LifeWear philosophy to provide quality and durable clothing that enriches the lives of our customers,” said Samoto le Dous.

“The new Re.Uniqlo Studio will offer our customers repair, remake, reuse services for their favorite LifeWear garments so they can keep wearing and enjoying them for longer.

“For many years the Re.Uniqlo program has existed and offered customers a place to recycle their unwanted clothing that they no longer wear and we utilize them for reuse and recycle into new garments or raw materials.

“Now with the new Re.Uniqlo Studio that is built upon Uniqlo’s LifeWear philosophy and the commitment in taking responsibility for apparel we sell, we are able to provide new, wider solutions to customers to extend the lifespan of LifeWear.”