Listen up, Boston-based collegiettes: tired of the same old shopping scene? You're in luck! Get ready to welcome UNIQLO, a Japanese clothing brand and your new favorite spot for beautiful basics. The clothing brand catering to men, women and children will open its first pop-up store in Boston on July 22 in the South Market building in historic Faneuil Hall, occupying the space in which Kingfish Hall used to be located.
The popular international retailer already has over 1,400 stores around the world as well as a number of stateside stores in places like Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, but this will be the first of many new locations in the Boston area. Chief executive of UNIQLO USA, Larry Meyer, a Northeastern graduate, explained to The Boston Globe why the brand will be such a good fit: "Boston is a great city with a great population. We felt that our products would go well with both the weather and style of Boston." The brand is definitely embracing the city, having teamed up with the Red Sox Foundation and planning to donate $50,000 to the foundation to organize events for the chosen charity of the Boston Red Sox.
Her Campus was lucky enough to chat with Eileen McMaster, Vice President of Public Relations and Internal Communications at UNIQLO, about the Japanese retailer's aesthetic and what we can expect from the new pop-up store.
"The main tenant of what our company's mission is is to change clothes, change conventional wisdom, change the world," says McMaster. When asked why UNIQLO chose to set up shop in Boston, McMaster explains, "It is a very important market for us. I think that your rich heritage and the importance of Boston in terms of American history and your sports teams and the weather, we just feel that we can make life…a whole lot easier for Bostonians.”
UNIQLO's aesthetic is similar to that of the GAP and Old Navy in that they market very affordable but high-quality pieces in a wide array of colors, cuts and fabrics, selling "very innovative clothing at our price-point," says McMaster. The retailer's mottos, "LifeWear" and "Made for All," reflect the brand's goal of providing pieces that can be seamlessly integrated into customers' existing wardrobes. To this end, UNIQLO does not put any logos on their products (which we love!).
Another selling point of UNIQLO is their heat-retention technology, known as HEATTECH, which is ideal for chilly New England winters. "HEATTECH retains heat within your own body and is very comfortable, very lightweight and can be layered," explains McMaster. As any Boston-based collegiette knows, while winters are frigid, summers can be sweltering, so UNIQLO also offers AIRism, the summertime counterpart to keep you cool and dry while neutralizing odor.
As we're closing in on back-to-school shopping season (it's never too early!), we're beyond thrilled that we've finally got a UNIQLO around the corner. The brand conveniently offers merino and cashmere sweaters at a fraction of the cost that other retailers sell them at, stocking cashmere sweaters that sell for $79.90 and come in over 20 different colors (and a variety of shapes). The brand also offers amazingly comfortable and flattering jeans, tops and dresses, like this navy and white Women's Cotton Modal Striped Short Sleeve Dress ($29.90), perfect for summers in New England.
The Japanese retailer already has a good deal of celebrity star power behind it, having collaborated with Pharrell Williams in the past and, more recently, with MoMA on a collection of T-shirts "inspired by art that has been in the [museum]," says McMaster. We especially love this adorable MoMA special edition SPRZ NY Tote Bag ($19.90), inspired by Keith Haring's artwork. It's perfect for the beach!
In addition to unveiling the pop-up store in Fanueil Hall, UNIQLO also plans to open stores at 341 Newbury Street, the Mall at Chestnut Hill, Northshore Mall and Legacy Place.
You'll definitely be able to find us browsing UNIQLO's colorful shelves come July 22, but in the meantime, be sure to check out UNIQLO online and on their mobile app!