Uniqlo Confirms It Does Not Use Cotton From China's Xinjiang Region

Fast Retailing CEO Tadashi Yanai addresses forced labor concerns, emphasizing transparency while navigating geopolitical pressures.

Uniqlo's CEO Tadashi Yanai stated for the first time that the company does not source cotton from China's Xinjiang region, known for forced labor allegations involving Uyghur Muslims.
Xinjiang cotton has faced global scrutiny, leading to U.S. import regulations and boycotts of brands like Nike, H&M, and Adidas in China for removing such products from their shelves.
Uniqlo has prioritized maintaining a neutral stance between U.S. and Chinese markets, helping the brand remain popular in China, where it operates more stores than in Japan.
Yanai emphasized Uniqlo's focus on high-quality, long-lasting clothing over fast fashion, which he criticized as wasteful and unsustainable.
The company plans to expand its presence in China, aiming to grow from 1,000 to 3,000 stores, while also seeking growth in Europe and the U.S. despite rising consumer awareness of human rights issues.