Uniqlo has released its first ‘Made-in-Tokyo’ apparel, which is a limited edition and represents a new creative process and business strategy for the brand’s parent company, Fast Retailing.
Uniqlo’s in-house manufacture of three new goods marks the company’s first venture into in-house production, which had hitherto been solely relied on outsourcing. The Innovation Factory, a collaboration between Fast Retailing and knitting technology pioneer Shima Seiki, creates 1,000 outfits each day.
The procedure, according to the business, begins with planning by a team at the Ariake office that sets up numerical specs for the new item. When manufacturing preparations begin, the team communicates with the Innovation Factory.
Fast Retailing has built a new Innovation Factory in Shinonome with the goal of shortening the period between product creation and mass manufacturing from three months to one month or less. The goal is to make new goods from the Innovation Factory available in limited quantities at the Tokyo flagship store, allowing Fast Retailing to evaluate consumer demand.