WHY UNIQLO’S ARRIVAL IN INDIA IS GREAT NEWS FOR US

After much speculation, Japanese mega-apparel retailer Uniqlo made an official announcement of its rather flamboyant entry into India with not one but three stores to open in New Delhi, this October. It is no secret Uniqlo already enjoys a well-established fan base among Indian business travellers, well before this announcement.

Come October, the brand will offer its popular collection in its three Delhi stores: Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj, followed by a second and a third store, in DLF Place Saket and DLF Cyberhub, respectively. No doubt, the Japanese brand’s bullish entry — a 3,251 sqm space in the Ambience Mall spread across three levels is going to shake things up in the retail space in India, making the competition even fiercer.

We also caught up with Yuki Katsuta, head, research and development at Uniqlo, who tells me, “The collection available in India is going to be consistent with the global offering”. Katsuta also highlighted that while there has been no official announcement on an Indian e-retail platform, it is definitely on the cards and is considered a top priority.

It might be a great idea to get some of Uniqlo’s famous ultra light down jacket, which is extremely light and easy to carry around. A traveller must-have is the Heattech innerwear, which is said to absorb the body’s moisture and convert it into heat, which gets trapped within the air pickets of the fibres. This is perfect for those business trips to cold countries, when you need to stay warm without bulking up through jackets. Of course, Uniqlo regulars will swear by the quality of their knitwear — cashmere, merino wool, lambs wool or 3D knit — all of which are extremely travel-friendly, and supremely elegant to pair over formal attire.

For the more fashion forward, the India opening will also bring Uniqlo U, a concept collection, from the Uniqlo R&D centre in Paris, showcasing innovating materials, new techniques and avant-garde silhouettes, under the tutelage of Christophe Lemaire (of Lacoste and Hermès fame). uniqlo.com