'We've heard your feedback': Is Uniqlo finally coming to New Zealand?
Global clothing powerhouse Uniqlo is tipped to be considering a launch into New Zealand.
While keeping details tightly under wraps, the Japanese-headquartered brand told the Herald it is “eager to connect further with the local community” and exploring “opportunities to expand our retail footprint” after completing its first New Zealand brand campaign.
Uniqlo – revered for its quality apparel and affordable staples – ran a major winter brand trip to Queenstown last month, with its Australia division flying in content creators for a high-altitude shoot of new products from their LifeWear range.
After learning about the trip, Nelson-based influencer Liv Martin took to TikTok to say that while she liked the warm winter layers they were promoting, “the problem that I have is we can’t even access the brand“.
“If you go to Australia, one of the first shops [Kiwis are] going to is Uniqlo.
“They’re affordable, they have great staples, so many amazing things, and they’re promoting their brand in our gorgeous country and we can’t even get them.”
Martin then posed the question: “Uniqlo, can you please either open a shop here, or at least, can we get some online shipping going?”
Weeks later, Martin revealed staff from Uniqlo Australia had been in touch and sent her a package after seeing the video.
“Hi Liv, we’ve heard your feedback and are working on bringing Uniqlo to Aotearoa New Zealand,” an accompanying note said.
“In the meantime, we hope you enjoy your new Uniqlo LifeWear products to help you keep warm this winter. Uniqlo Australia.”
Uniqlo has again signalled interest in opening a New Zealand store after running its first local brand campaign in Queenstown last month. Photo / Getty Images
Martin said she was initially “mortified” by the exchange as she wasn’t trying to criticise the brand, but was buoyed by the possibility of Uniqlo foraying into New Zealand.
When asked for clearer details, a spokeswoman for Uniqlo Australia told the Herald it was limited in what could be said or shared, but did not dispute the facts raised in Martin’s letter.
“We are always exploring new opportunities to expand our retail footprint and bring LifeWear to new locations.
“We can confirm that this project was Uniqlo’s first introduction into New Zealand and we are eager to connect further with the local community in the future.”
Under a post about the campaign, one Kiwi asked Uniqlo when it plans to come here.
The brand responded with “Hypothetically, where should we open up?”, accompanied by a chuckling emoji.
Another said they would look to purchase something from the collection if New Zealanders were able to access the brand, while a third questioned whether the shoot signalled Kiwis could soon expect to be able to.
“We’re trying our hardest,” Uniqlo responded.
It’s not the first time Uniqlo has expressed interest in opening a brick-and-mortar store in New Zealand.
The company has been firmly established in Australia for over a decade, opening its flagship store in Melbourne’s downtown in April 2014.
Uniqlo hinted at its keenness to expand across the Tasman years later, telling the Herald in 2017 that while it didn’t have a specific timeline or location, New Zealand remains on its radar.
“We don’t have any updates yet if we are going to open a Uniqlo store in New Zealand,” the company said.
“We are still looking forward [to] the opportunity that we might have, or we will open, a store in New Zealand in the future.”
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