Through a joint venture with Philippine’s SM Retail, Japanese fast casual brand Uniqlo is scheduled to open first store in the Philippines in June.

The inaugural store will be at SM Mall of Asia, one of the country’s largest malls. 

The flagship, to be spread across 1550sqm, will have a staff of about 100.

“As the brand continues to accelerate its regional expansion efforts, the Uniqlo Mall of Asia is set to offer the joy of truly great clothing to shoppers in the Philippines,” the company said.

Fast Retailing, Uniqlo’s parent company, said its business venture in the Philippines will include future collaborations with local designers and establishment of manufacturing operations.

But, for the meantime and for the next few years, the company will focus on establishing the core retail business, according to Katsumi Kubota, CEO of Fast Retailing’s local unit in the Philippines.

In Southeast Asia, Uniqlo has a presence in 11 countries. As of January this year, Uniqlo’s store count in Japan has reached 851, 214 in Asia and 234 in other parts of the world.

GB