Japanese brand Uniqlo is expanding to Germany with the first store to open in Berlin in 2014.

The store will be located at Tauentzienstrasse shopping area, which is home to many international fashion and lifestyle brands.

Fast Retailing group officer and Uniqlo Europe CEO Berndt Hauptkorn said that the Berlin store opening marks a step-change for the company.

“Uniqlo is a giant globally, but we are still a challenger brand in Europe. We have been focusing our presence in Paris, London and Moscow, and we are enjoying attractive growth rates despite a commercially demanding environment,” said Hauptkorn.

“The German-speaking market will offer great opportunities for Uniqlo, as well as other major markets and cities we are considering across Europe including Barcelona and Milan.”

The Uniqlo store in Berlin will span approximately 2700 sqm over three levels and will offer the full line of men’s, women’s and kid’s clothing.

Uniqlo was first established in Japan in 1984 and currently has more than 1200 stores across 14 countries worldwide.

In Europe, the company operates 15 stores across three countries, having first launched in the UK in 2001, France in 2007 and Russia in 2010.